Illegal luxury taxis for F1: Porsche and Mercedes seized at Montreal airport

Drivers of “illegal taxis” who used the Grand Prix to pick up tourists in luxury cars had their cars impounded by traffic controllers on Friday evening in an operation aimed at enforcing industry laws.

“With the large number of visitors coming this weekend, many are upgrading taxi drivers. But it opens the door to all kinds of dangerous situations,” road controller Alain Gilbert immediately explains.

Newspaper Went with his team on patrol in downtown Montreal on Friday evening. Throughout the weekend, Quebec Road Traffic Control will monitor drivers offering paid transportation to ensure customer safety.

Evening in a trailer

In one evening, agents seized three vehicles at the Montreal airport, where the problem of illegal taxis has persisted for years. A Porsche Macan and a shiny Mercedes left behind in a tow truck.

Disregarding drivers hope to capitalize on the excitement of the F1 Grand Prix to offer races to customers in luxury vehicles.

“It is flat for those who are in good standing, have paid their license and passed the inspections. “We have already seen cases of fake taxis picking up intoxicated customers and sexual assault,” said Sergeant Gilbert, highlighting the importance of such a move.

A taxi in poor mechanical condition, an improvised limousine service, a suspended driver’s license: road controllers see all the colors, says Alain Gilbert as he intercepts two taxis parked in front of Central Station. After the tests, the drivers were orderly, although one was parked in a restricted area.

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Sergeants Alain Gilbert and Martin Fortier check the documents of a taxi driver near Central Station in Montreal.

Martin Alary / Journal de Montreal

Inspectors also check Uber compliance, which is against regulations, even if some drivers choose to avoid being intercepted by not affixing their identification sticker.

“Ubers should be seen less often [que les taxis] When customers view their traffic through a mobile application. But we have a way to detect them,” explains Sgt.

Collision with a Lambo

The team was called in during the evening by the Montreal police to check out all kinds of situations near Crescent Street. Their reinforcement was necessary after a commercial truck and a Lamborghini collided at the corner of René-Lévesque Boulevard and rue de la Montagne.

A modified truck carrying an Argo vehicle on a trailer collided with a Lamborghini near Crescent Street.

Martin Alary / Journal de Montreal

“You don’t see anything from above, I let off the brakes and it dragged,” says the driver of the truck, whose suspension has been visibly altered.

This Friday, his job was to drive around festivals with an educated commercial truck with a large Argo amphibious vehicle on a trailer to advertise at a dealership on the North Shore.

Road inspectors check whether the goods are compliant.

Martin Alary / Journal de Montreal

“That’s the kind of atmosphere that Grand Prix brings,” underscores Sergeant Alain Gilbert. The modified truck was able to leave, but had to pass an engine test within 72 hours.

During last year’s F1 in Montreal, Quebec highway traffic control seized nine vehicles and suspended the licenses of several drivers. The agency issued 100 tickets, mainly to unqualified drivers or taxis with unqualified vehicles. Assessment of 2024 activity will be done during the week.