Illegal taxi services attract Brock students

Steve Woodhead, The Brock Press (Brock University)

ST. CATHARINES (CUP) — Illegal taxi services near Brock University are providing a less expensive option for students, even though officials warn about their safety.

As more and more of the taxis are caught on the university campus, campus security is trying to educate students about the dangers of getting in an unlicensed taxi, which often offer lower fares than their licensed counterparts.

“Students should understand that if there isn’t a licensed taxi-driver behind the wheel, it’s just some guy driving a car,” said Sergeant Mike McAllister of the Niagara Regional Police. “If it doesn’t have a sign on top, don’t get in.”

Illegal taxi organizations, known to many Brock students and campus security, do not operate like legitimate cab companies.

The illegal taxis often operate only by cellphone and lack stringent background checks for their drivers. This makes them less reliable and highly suspicious to both Niagara police and campus security.

Unlicensed taxi services are not allowed on Brock University property. Drivers caught dropping off a student are issued a trespassing notice, according

to Mayla Parrent, assistant director of campus security.

Repeat offenders are often familiar to campus security officers.

“We do have a particular individual who is very well-known here at Brock and has been charged numerous times, to the point that he now has to appear in court,” said Parrent. “And he still has the system beat — he drops students off at McDonald’s across the street.”

McAllister is hoping students will realize that the safeguards and licensing procedures used by legitimate taxi services are often ignored by the unlicensed

cabs operating in the area. He said that the possible records of the drivers could be harrowing.

“[Legal cab companies] are licensed through my office, which means the vehicle has proper insurance for carrying additional passengers, people are covered from a liability perspective, and the drivers are all checked [thoroughly] for possible past offences, sexual or otherwise. We make sure they don’t have drug issues and that they have a valid driver’s license,” McAllister said.

Niagara Regional Police and campus security have received numerous complaints about illegal cabs. The list includes reckless driving, selling drugs out of the cars, and sexual harassment bordering on molestation.

The lack of insurance coverage could also leave passengers without recourse to compensation in the event of an accident.

“The question to ask a student is, if you were to be injured while travelling with one of these drivers and you needed special medical treatment or equipment, who’s covering you?” said McAllister. “These illegal taxis have no insurance plans; regular taxis do.”

Yet the issue for most students is still money. Since illegitimate cabs avoid the costly registration of their cars and drivers, they are able to undercut the prices of legitimate cab companies.

As a result, other cab companies in town have introduced flat rate systems for Brock students, depending on the destination.

Until more students refuse to call the unlicensed cabs, however, McAllister said that the situation cannot be resolved.

“The worst hasn’t happened yet, but I’m afraid it’s going to.”