WATERLOO REGION — Residents looking to make some extra cash by driving for Uber could find themselves with a fine of up to $25,000.

The Region of Waterloo has decided it will investigate and possibly charge Uber drivers with contravening the municipality's taxi bylaw but only on a complaint basis.

Coun. Jane Mitchell, chair of the regional committee which oversees taxis, said staff decided Saturday that they will enforce the local taxi bylaw.

"Staff is not going to seek an injunction against Uber while the (taxi) bylaw review is underway, however we will continue to enforce our taxi bylaw against drivers operating without a licence," Mitchell said.

The Uber app allows anyone to offer rides-for-hire in their personal vehicle and allows people to book, track and pay for a ride with their smartphone.

The region regulates the local taxi industry and, under its current bylaw, Uber drivers are considered unlicensed, illegal taxi drivers.

Staff were instructed to consider ride-hailing services as part of a new vehicles-for-hire bylaw that will be made public in August. It isn't expected to go into effect until January.

Until then if someone calls bylaw officers and can identify a specific person driving for Uber, they may be investigated and charged.

"We're not out trying to catch Uber drivers but if somebody has a complaint then bylaw will look into it," Coun. Tom Galloway said.

The current taxi bylaw says the penalty is a fine of up to $25,000.

No Uber drivers have yet been fined.

"I haven't heard of any yet so I assume there will be but, no I haven't," Mitchell said.

Uber launched operations here on Thursday after meeting with the region the day before to provide input on the new bylaw. The region wasn't told of Thursday's launch.

That's irked some local politicians after Uber officials said earlier this year that they wanted to work with the region.

"I felt disappointed because it shows a lack of respect for municipal bylaws and our procedure that we're going through," Mitchell said.

Attempts in other cities to get court injunctions and stop Uber from operating have been unsuccessful.

Some hail the app as an exciting new technology while others, especially in the taxi industry, say it's not properly regulated to protect the public and shouldn't be allowed to break the rules.

Galloway said he thinks there should be a way to work ride-hailing into the vehicles-for-hire bylaw but he doesn't like the way Uber has operated so far.

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"I think if we can make it work that would be great but, unfortunately, Uber has a way of doing business and it's not very collaborative," he said.

He has yet to try the service.

"That would be a bad idea given that I'm not too inclined to like them right now," he said.

The launch, which offered passengers free rides until Sunday, has seen its challenges.

There were several reports of difficulty booking a car.

Carin Headrick said she felt like she was on a radio contest to be the 12th caller as she repeatedly tried to book with Uber.

She was successful eventually.

"It was a good experience," she said. "He was nice and got me where I needed to go."

Uber has not said how many drivers have signed up in Waterloo Region.

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