Article content

The dispute between the city of Ottawa and ride-sharing company Uber escalated over the weekend, when two drivers were charged as part of an undercover investigation.

The city intends to keep investigating after both drivers were charged Saturday with operating a cab without a taxi driver licence and says more bylaw charges are possible.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Undercover city staff book Uber rides in Ottawa then charge drivers with $650 fines Back to video

The drivers face fines of $650 each after undercover city employees booked rides through Uber’s app, which launched in Ottawa last week, said Susan Jones, Ottawa’s general manager of emergency and protective services. “Enforcement is underway as we speak and will continue to be,” Jones said Sunday.

Since Uber made it known last month that it was eyeing the capital, the city has maintained the company will be treated as a cab operation, requiring it to obtain a broker’s licence, hire licensed cab drivers and use vehicles licensed as taxis. But Uber disputes that, saying it’s a technology company, not a taxi firm.