Taxi company angered over employee attacks

Miriam Ostermann
Times Associate Editor

 

A local taxi company is outraged over the assault of two of its employees in the past two months, the lack of municipal protection, and targeted crimes involving theft.
On March 15, one of the taxi drivers for Strathmore Taxi and Economy Taxi was attacked by an intoxicated passenger at approximately 9:30 p.m. The incident occurred when two people, who were both intoxicated, were dropped off at their house. The male returned to the taxi and demanded to be taken anywhere. According to the Strathmore RCMP, the individual stepped out of the vehicle after two blocks and punched the cab driver in the face. Yet Martin De Peuter, owner-operator of Strathmore Taxi and Economy Taxi, said his driver ended up with a concussion and a shoulder injury and was unable to work for weeks. According to De Peuter the incident occurred just weeks after another cab driver was attacked and his vehicle stolen, which was later recovered.
He added five attacks have occurred over the past four years, while thefts have also become a frequent dilemma.
“They’ve been robbing the cabs, and they’ve beat one of my drivers and he’s still out of commission,” said De Peuter.
“Anywhere where they have a taxi bylaw, the town tries to help protect the taxi drivers. You assault a taxi driver in Calgary, I tell you what, you’re going to get bylaws down your throat, you’re going to have the city police down your throat, and you’re going to have the city down your throat. Here they didn’t do anything.”
Strathmore RCMP dealt with the incident, and the individual responsible appeared in court with charges of assault, obstruction of justice, and fraudulently obtaining transportation.
“If it was a concussion or anything else the charges would be higher there is absolutely not evidence to support anything other than a common assault,” said Strathmore RCMP Staff Sgt. Steve Vince. “Our charges don’t support the allegations.”
The Town of Strathmore is currently in the process of reinventing the Taxi Bylaw and have met with the local taxi companies to discuss their concerns. De Peuter said he started placing dash cameras in each of his vehicles, but stated that without signs placed at the town entrances to indicate that public services are using surveillance, the footage cannot be used as evidence in court.
Cab drivers have also fallen victim to pranks, where teenagers lure the driver to a false location claiming a senior person requires help to get into the vehicle. Upon the arrival, however, the driver will find no one at the residence, while change and company credit cards are being stolen out of the vehicle.
While De Peuter added his employees don’t seem to be worried about their safety, he said they may have to become more observant and aware of their surroundings.