Ottawa taxi drivers are taking a big risk if they refuse to install security cameras inside their taxis, said Mayor Larry O'Brien.

"They risk having their licences lifted," he said Tuesday after a meeting between the city and the taxi union. "That's a big investment, and I don't think the owners of the licences will take that risk."

The meeting at city hall followed a demonstration against bylaw requiring the cameras to be installed in all city taxis by July 2.

Hundreds of Blueline, Capital and DJ's taxis honked their horns and clogged the streets of Ottawa during the protest beginning at 10 a.m. and wound slowly from Coventry and Belfast roads toward city hall. The protest was organized by Canadian Auto Workers Local 1688, which represents the taxi drivers.

Before the protest, Yusuf Al Mezel, president of taxi drivers union, said the drivers will not allow the cameras to be installed in their cars this July.

"These cameras will not be installed in our cars without our consent and without our consultation," he said, adding that drivers were not asked to weigh in on the bylaw or even the type of security camera that would be installed.

The drivers have voiced concerns about their privacy and that of their passengers as well as the price of cameras, which are $1,500 each and are being obtained by the city through a single-source contract with Toronto-based VerifEye Technologies.

Al Mezel said the drivers did their own investigation and found they could get security cameras for half that price.

The taxi drivers plan to demonstrate again Wednesday between 9 and 11 a.m., leading up to a city council meeting. Ottawa police issued a warning to drivers Tuesday afternoon, telling them to expect traffic delays.

At the council meeting, councillors are to discuss whether to extend the deadline by which taxi drivers must comply with the bylaw. The city also said it will look into further changes to taxi fares to help drivers pay for the cameras.

O'Brien said the city will also consult with Ontario's privacy commissioner to address the cabbies' concerns.

Council approved the bylaw requiring the cameras in September 2005. Since then, the city has allowed drivers to collect a five cent surcharge on each fare and the difference between seven per cent and the reduced GST to cover the cost of the cameras, said city spokesman Barre Campbell.