A Quinte West business owner has successfully fought off provincial efforts to strip him of his liquor delivery licence over his ties to a motorcycle club.
Adam Bridge, who operates Big Deal Delivery, was facing a licence revocation proposed by the registrar under the Liquor Licence and Control Act.
Provincial regulators argued that Bridge’s status as a full-patch member of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club compromised his ability to run a business with honesty and integrity.
Expert testimony presented by police highlighted the club’s international ties to organized crime and a strict code of non-cooperation with law enforcement.
Regulators also pointed to three recent interactions Bridge had with police, where he was reluctant to identify himself during public disturbances.
However, the Licence Appeal Tribunal ruled in Bridge’s favour, ordering regulators not to proceed with revoking his licence.
Adjudicator Bruce Stanton stated that while individual club members elsewhere have committed serious crimes, membership alone does not prove Bridge will break the law.
The tribunal emphasized that the Outlaws Motorcycle Club has not been legally declared a criminal organization in Canada.
Furthermore, police presented no evidence directly connecting Bridge or his local Trenton chapter to any ongoing criminal enterprise.
The tribunal also found that Bridge’s past refusal to identify himself to officers during non-criminal disputes did not pose a threat to public safety.
Ultimately, the adjudicator highlighted that Bridge has operated his delivery service since 2020 with an unimpeachable record and zero regulatory violations.
As a result of the ruling, Big Deal Delivery will be allowed to continue providing lawful liquor delivery services throughout the region.
