Taxi driver Arieh Perecowicz has been fined more than $1,400 for having personal effects in his cab. (CBC)A Montreal cab driver was in municipal court Tuesday to defend his right to display religious symbols in his taxi.
Arieh Perecowicz has been stopped four times by Montreal's taxi authority and fined more than $1,400 for keeping personal objects in his cab, including photographs, newspaper clippings, and two mezuzahs — small Jewish prayer scrolls.
Section 98 of Montreal's taxi bylaw says cab drivers cannot have objects in their cars that are not required for the taxi to be in service.
Perecowicz, who is representing himself in court, said many drivers have personal items in their cars. He said he is being singled out unfairly.
"In my 43 years, almost half a million customers, nobody ever was offended, nobody ever complained," he said.
But taxi inspector Jinny Massicotte told the court that Perecowicz's car was dangerous and uninviting for passengers.
She testified that there were photos blocking the gas gauge and the speedometer. She said another photo in a metal frame could be dangerous in an accident.
Massicotte told the court Perecowicz's car was the dirtiest cab she had seen in her five years as an inspector.
The case is expected to be argued in court for the next few days.
