A Montreal couple says a night out turned frightening after they unknowingly got into what they allege was a fake taxi in the early hours of Aug. 23.
Randi O. and her boyfriend, Joel, say they got into what they believed was a legitimate taxi outside the Pool Room on Saint-Laurent Boulevard, but quickly realized something was wrong.
“We kind of knew right away as soon as we stepped inside,” said Randi.
Randi said the vehicle had a sign outside, which made them believe it was a legitimate taxi. But once inside, she said they noticed the driver did not have proper identification.
“He did have a sign outside of his car so that’s why we thought it was legit. But once we sat down we saw there was no ID,” Randi said.
The couple says they soon questioned the driver about a $10 charge and asked to leave.
“Within a minute we asked him, it’s $10 we’re not going to pay that,” said Randi. “Can you please let us out? And that’s when he locked the doors, he reached back and grabbed the phone from my boyfriend’s hand by punching him.”
Randi said the ordeal lasted about 10 minutes, during which the driver allegedly sped up and slowed down while attacking Joel.
She said she was eventually able to get out near Ontario Street on Saint-Laurent Boulevard, while Joel escaped moments later, just before Sherbrooke Street, as the driver sped away.
“The moment we called him out that maybe something was wrong, that’s when he got defensive,” said Randi. “And it didn’t have to go that way.”
Joel’s guitar was left behind during the incident. Randi said it was later found near where the couple had been picked up and turned over to police. The couple is now working to get it back.
The SPVM said it cannot confirm whether the vehicle involved was an illegal taxi.
Police said no 911 call was made at the time, meaning officers were not able to intervene or stop a suspect vehicle. The driver has not been identified.
The SPVM said it currently has no surveillance footage, no description of the driver and no other evidence to move the case forward. As a result, no investigation is currently open, although a note about the incident has been added to the police file.
Randi said the experience has left the couple concerned about what could have happened.
She also said she does not feel the couple has received enough support from authorities.
Taxi industry leaders say the case highlights concerns about how passengers can distinguish legitimate taxis from illegal operators.
George Boussios, president of Champlain Taxi, said regulatory gaps in Quebec are making it increasingly difficult for passengers to identify legitimate taxis. He also warned that the issue extends beyond taxis, with fake Uber vehicles also operating on Montreal streets.
“All we’re asking the government is to put inspectors on the road to make sure the drivers are registered and have people just trying to stop and catch these illegal taxes,” said Boussios.
Boussios said stronger enforcement is needed before a serious incident occurs.
“Something’s gonna happen something tragic and then they’re gonna regulate this again but that’s gonna be too late,” said Boussios.
The SAAQ, which oversees such regulations, would not comment on the specific case but said passengers should check for key identifiers before getting into a vehicle.
For taxis, those include a visible roof sign, a meter and a posted fare grid.
For app-based services, passengers should check for the government identification sticker and make sure the driver and vehicle match the information shown in the app.
CityNews also reached out to the City of Montreal for comment but did not hear back.
“It’s bad for our business, it’s bad for the taxi industry and it’s bad for Montrealers,” said Boussios.
Dan Gold)
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