CBC and COLlive
Montreal has ordered taxi inspectors to stop fining drivers who display religious items in their cars, and revoked all tickets against one cabbie who publicly fought to preserve his dash decorations.
Arieh Perecowicz has been fined more than $1,400 for his dash decor, which includes family photos, a Mezuza, Tefilals Haderech prayer, a photo of the Lubavitcher Rebbe and a Canadian flag.
He fought the city tickets for years, finally losing his legal battle last month in municipal court, where a judge ruled the taxi bylaw does not infringe on Perecowicz’s rights.
2 weeks ago the city clarified the bylaw, and issued a new directive for taxi inspectors to exercise “tolerance with regards to religious objects in taxis.”
The city also notified Perecowicz that his fines have been revoked.
Perecowicz is declaring victory, and indicated he’ll drop any further legal action.
“My goal in pursuing my contestation of the many tickets I received was to ensure for myself and for other drivers that our freedom of religion and expression was protected,” he said in a written statement.
“The City has gone a long way in recognizing the risk to our fundamental freedoms if such practices continued. I am relieved and happy to put this saga behind me and consider the settlement a victory for all Quebecers.”
i saw the Rebbes picture in the cab this summer when i was there, it was so AMAZING to see that!!! ill never forget
WAY TO GO!!!! MAZAL TOV
I get your sarcasm……I mean I hope you were sarcastic?….
would you feel comfortable in a cab, where the driver has a cross hanging?
mazel tov on winning your fight – its folks like you who make it matter more for the rest of us
again – mazel tov
Actually, it’s Canada. Different country & in many ways more tolerant than the US. (Unfortunately, in other ways, not so much…)
Way to fight for your identity!
here’s an example of what’s beautiful about America – its founding principles of “religious freedom”