Expect the police to start busting more Uber drivers.

It's just the news cabbies in this city have been waiting to hear.

On Monday, the city asked the Ottawa Police Service to increase its enforcement of a section of the Highway Traffic Act that allows police to charge motorists driving passengers for money without the necessary permits.

Fines under the provincial law, which police can levy, range between $300 and $20,000.

The request came the same day taxi union honchos met with Mayor Jim Watson and two other council bigwigs to talk about escalating the Uber crackdown.

The ride-sharing company has been driving cabbies crazy, with many saying their business has been drastically cut since the app launched here in October.

Coun. Eli El-Chantiry, chair of the police services board, said the city can't give police direction on operations but it can request that police help bylaw officers crack down on illegal taxis.

"That all falls under the priorities of the chief and his staff," El-Chantiry said.

Police received a call from bylaw services Monday asking for help on Uber enforcement.

"They asked if they would work them in the future on this issue and we've agreed to do that," Supt. Scott Nystedt said.

Nystedt said it's too early to say how many police resources will go into the enforcement.

Ottawa taxi union president Amrik Singh, Unifor executive Bob Orr and other local taxi union reps told the mayor the city must strong-arm Uber.

Up until now the Uber blitzes have been run by the bylaw services branch.

"We need police to go out and ticket (Uber drivers)," Singh said.

The way they describe it, cabbies can no longer handle a downtick in revenue in a regulated market that has allowed Uber drivers to skirt municipal laws.

"We need to see an increase in enforcement so the drivers know someone's on their side," Orr said after the meeting.

"For us it's obviously something that's pressing we're not going to let sit."

Georges Chamoun, chair of the Capital Taxi unit of drivers, said the union is urging the city to enforce Uber before cabbies "lose control."

Cabbies are pleased to hear that Watson is upset about Uber breaking municipal rules.

"When a mayor says Uber is operating illegally in his view, that's a pretty strong statement," Orr said.

Watson's spokesman said the mayor wasn't unavailable to comment Monday afternoon.

Coun. Diane Deans, chair of the protective services committee, and acting deputy city manager Susan Jones were also in the one-hour meeting.

Council on Wednesday will be asked to commit $300,000 for a taxi bylaw review. The review -- which will consider how technology-based ride-sharing companies like Uber can fit into city regulations -- is scheduled to be finished by March.

In the meantime, the city says it continues to write bylaw tickets for taxi drivers operating without permits.

Cabbies and the city are both hoping the province legislates stiffer penalties for unlicensed taxi drivers. Ottawa Liberal MPP John Fraser has a proposed bill to do exactly that. Ottawa PC MPP Lisa MacLeod has also introduced a proposal to increase penalties.

Twitter: @JonathanWilling

What you are saying:

What do you think about charging Uber drivers under the Highway Traffic Act for picking up passengers without a necessary licence?

Rathana Pan, 24.

Occupation: Student

“I feel like people can fight back against Uber but it’s not going to work out in the long term. You just can’t stop technology like this ... some thought the same about the Internet and look where we are.

Rebecca Nicholson, 21.

Occupation: Student

“I understand why taxi drivers are frustrated but in the end Uber services are better and I feel safer with Uber.”

Sarah Wilkinson, 36.

Occupation: Teacher

“I can see from two different perspectives. If I regularly took a taxi and Uber was a cheaper alternative, then I can see why it’s good but taxi drivers are trying to make a living. They have to get licences and there are certain rules and regulations ... it’s not necessarily fair that something new swings in, taxi drivers’ occupation is at risk.”

Laura Bagshaw, 51.

Occupation: Clerk

“It’s not harsh because the cab drivers have to pay for their licence and these (Uber) guys just walk in ... it’s really not fair to the cab drivers.”