WATERLOO REGION — The Region of Waterloo will pursue charges against six Uber drivers for operating illegally here despite the anticipated approval of a new vehicle-for-hire bylaw that would allow the ride-hailing app.

Regional Chair Ken Seiling said it's important to send a message and uphold the law.

"The intent is to say look, we do have bylaws in place and you can't just flout them, and if we charge people for breaking the law and then say, oh by the way if we change it down the road, we're going to get rid of all the charges, then the messaging is wrong," he said.

The region regulates the local taxi industry. Only the region can grant licences and take them away. Under the current taxi bylaw, ride-hailing apps like Uber are illegal.

Angelo Apfelbaum, the region's manager of licensing and enforcement, said a pretrial date was set in Kitchener provincial offences court Tuesday for September to pursue charges against six local Uber drivers for operating without a taxi meter.

The charges were levied against the Uber drivers in October. At the time, officials said it was an effort to calm conflict between the local taxi industry and Uber drivers.

Uber did not respond to a request for comment on Wednesday, but when the charges were initially levied, a spokesperson said that "in instances of enforcement, we will always stand behind the hardworking community of driver partners in Waterloo Region."

The pretrial date was set the same day the region hosted a public meeting on a proposed new vehicle-for-hire bylaw that would allow Uber to operate here, provided it adhered to several regulations.

The majority of speakers were cabbies who urged the region not to make the change.

Initial staff recommendations would permit Uber and ride-hailing apps provided they adhere to several safety and other regulations.

Shortly before the charges were levied, the Waterloo Region Taxi Alliance was encouraging drivers to take photos of Uber drivers and their licence plates or to order Uber rides to get information. When a taxi driver did so one night in late September, it allegedly resulted in a violent altercation in Kitchener.

Waterloo Regional Police said at the time that a 55-year-old Cambridge man faced charges of assault with a weapon and dangerous driving after an incident with a City Cab driver.

According to police, the two argued when the City Cab driver saw the Uber driver and confronted him.

The cabbie squatted down to take a picture of the driver's licence plate, according to Waterloo Regional Police, and was allegedly struck lightly by the Uber driver's car before the Cambridge man took off, also allegedly running two red lights on King Street.

Several penalties can be issued for violating the region's taxi bylaw, including $165 for driving without a taxi licence. Multiple convictions could lead to a fine of up to $25,000.

Around the time of the charges, Uber blocked regional bylaw officers from the app, which they were using to book Uber rides to find drivers and charge them, the licensing and hearings chair said at the time.

Seiling said the region has been criticized in both directions for how it handled the launch of Uber here.

"There are those who argue that we should have done more, there are those who argue that we should have done less," he said.

Councillors will be asked at an April 20 meeting to debate and decide on several fundamental questions that will guide the bylaw. Once council sets its course, staff will prepare a new bylaw for debate on June 8.

The second public meeting on the vehicle-for-hire bylaw will be held April 5 at 6 p.m. at regional headquarters, 150 Frederick St., Kitchener.

To register as a delegation, contact the regional clerk's office at 519-575-4420 or email regionalclerk@regionofwaterloo.ca.

An online survey and discussion guide also are available at http://www.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/regionalgovernment/bylawenforcement.asp.

- Cabbies urge Waterloo Region not to permit Uber

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

- Uber, other technologies to be included in regional transportation master plan

- D'Amato: Uber antics show contempt for law

- Taxi drivers are feeling the virtual pain of Uber

- Uber kicks Waterloo Region bylaw officers off app

- Uber offers free ride to and from polling stations for first-time customers in Waterloo Region

- New Uber rules? Taxi bylaw overhaul stalled as Waterloo Region hears from public

- Local taxi alliance seeks injunction against Uber

- Letter to the editor: It's Uber for $3

- D'Amato: Uber is winning the battle of the cabs

- The Record's view: What route to take with Uber?

- Cameras in cabs and Uber cars? Waterloo Region considers new taxi rules

- Uber to give drivers option to be paid instantly

- The Record's view: Uber is a friend to public transit

- Another view: Uber proving a benefit even to riders who don't use it