Conviction secured against unlicensed ride-hail operator

Richmond RCMP Road Safety Unit and the Ministry of Transportation and Transit’s Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement (CVSE) secure conviction against unlicensed ride-hail operator.

On March 26, 2025 officers from Richmond RCMP Road Safety Unit (RSU) and CVSE secured three convictions against an unlicensed ride-hail operator. The convictions include:

• Operate without a License – S. 57(1) Passenger Transportation Act;
• Wrong Class Drivers License – S. 24(1) Motor Vehicle Act;
• Fail to Display Certificate – S. 25.07(1) Motor Vehicle Act Regulations.

The driver was stopped on December 20, 2023 as part of Richmond RCMP RSU and CVSE’s joint operations cracking down on illegal ride-hail operators. In 2024, RSU and CVSE officers conducted a total of eight joint enforcement operations, resulting in over $ 79,000 in fines issued to 35 illegal ride-hail operators.

This driver faced similar charges in 2020 for which he was previously convicted.

We have highlighted these joint operations throughout the year, and will continue to do so, to educate the public on the risks associated to using these illegal services, said Sergeant Eric Baskette, Richmond RCMP Road Safety Unit. Illegal ride-hail operators do not the meet critical safety requirements, including criminal record checks, licensing, and insurance. These charges and convictions come with steep financial penalties which we hope sends the message loud and clear that operating illegally in Richmond is not going to be tolerated.