Uber crackdown in Calgary 'heavy-handed,' says driver
Uber driver Don Carruthers says he is confident his company has his back
An Uber driver in Calgary says he has no regrets about working for the company, even though he and other drivers are now the target of a court injunction.
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The City of Calgary filed the application on Monday against 57 people believed to be driving for the company.
I'm quite comfortable that they have my back.- Uber driver Don Carruthers
"There's clearly an attempt to intimidate, in my opinion," said Don Carruthers, an Uber driver who has decided to stop taking bookings until the injunction is dealt with.
The injunction says any one caught driving for Uber could be arrested. The concern is that Uber drivers are unlicensed and don't have proper insurance.
The company has promised to stand behind drivers who run into bylaw problems.
Carruthers said so far he has received an e-mail from Uber notifying him that a lawyer has been appointed to the case.
Court date on Friday
"I'm quite comfortable that they have my back," said Carruthers.
The city is offering a consent order to drivers. If a driver agrees to stop breaching the bylaw, the city will remove that person from its application.
Carruthers said he would consider it, but he hasn't seen the paper work yet.
"I have to see the wording," he said describing the move by the city as "heavy-handed."
The injunction application will be before a judge on Friday.
The City of Edmonton also attempted to stop Uber drivers by seeking an injunction in April, but it was struck down.