VIDEO. Aggression, threats, tension rises a notch in Toulouse, between taxis and VTC drivers
After a period of calm, relations between taxis and VTC have again deteriorated in Toulouse. Verbal attacks and threats are increasing. Taxis are considering protest actions.
It is 11:45 p.m. on Saturday January 14 in front of the Matabiau station in Toulouse. Sébastien, a taxi driver, picks up a traveler as he gets off a train. It is parked at the station reserved for taxis, as only taxis, a regulated profession, have the right to do so.
He then sees an individual who solicits a traveler, offers him to get into his VTC vehicle. A practice prohibited by law, which strictly regulates the profession.
“He started to insult me, he was filming me at the same time”
“I open my window to hear what he says. That didn’t work for him either, explains Sébastien. He started insulting me, he was filming me at the same time. »
The taxi allows you to keep calm. The VTC uploads the video on the Snapchat network. Which is a misdemeanor, punishable by one year’s imprisonment and a fine of €45,000.
The taxi filed a complaint for invasion of privacy by fixing, recording or transmitting a person’s image, and another for public insult to an individual by word, writing, image or communication to the public by electronic means. We were able to read the video, since deleted from the networks, and the complaint.
“An incident that adds to weeks of tension”
“It is a heavier incident, which could have had more consequences, if our colleague had not kept his calm. But this adds to weeks of tension, explains Jean-Pierre Rogalle, president of UNT 31 for Blagnac airport taxis. It’s been building up, especially since the convention season at MEETT this fall. But also at the station, at the airport, in front of nightclubs. Some VTCs impose their law, they impose a climate of fear, even terror. Some colleagues don’t even dare to pick up clients at night anymore, little to do, insult, threaten or worse. »
According to taxis, VTC drivers regularly solicit customers
The heads of UNT national and UNT 31, Rachid Boudjema and Philippe Duran, jointly wrote a letter to the prefect of Haute-Garonne and the mayor of Toulouse. They explain that they have seen a resurgence of “illegal drivers”, while operators of transport cars with drivers regularly engage in soliciting customers.
“For the moment, we have not received a response to our letter dated November 2022. We have written to the prefect again, following the attack on Saturday evening. We feel let down by the authorities, underlines Jean-Pierre Rogalle. We note that this VTC driver, author of the attack, is involved deployed through his social networks and incites his VTC colleagues to engage in solicitation and attack taxi operators”.