Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

You are here: MacNN Forums > News > Tech News > Four drivers arrested in the Netherlands over UberPop ride sharing

Four drivers arrested in the Netherlands over UberPop ride sharing
Thread Tools
NewsPoster
MacNN Staff
Join Date: Jul 2012
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Oct 13, 2014, 12:50 PM
 
Uber's European ambitions has received a setback, after four drivers in Amsterdam were arrested for operating a taxi service in the city by using the Uber app. The drivers have since been released by the Dutch police, but face fines as high as 4,200 euros ($5,300) each, over a matter which amounts to a licensing issue, and could be the first time UberPop drivers receive a fine for using the service.

The drivers were arrested after officials from the Ministry of Environment & Infrastructure posed as passengers, reports Bloomberg, with the drivers found to lack proper permits for offering a taxi service in the city. UberPop differs from the UberBlack and UberLux services offered by Uber in the city. While the others use drivers licensed to offer taxi services, UberPop instead allows anyone with the app to offer ride-sharing services with their own vehicle.



"They were arrested and fined because it is illegal to offer these services without the right permits," claims Ministry spokesperson Yeter Atmaca, adding that the drivers involved face fines as high as 10,000 euro ($12,700) if they are caught offering UberPop services again. A statement received from Uber states "This action is unjustified and disproportional. We remain in touch with the policy makers to familiarize them with how our technology works and the positive impact it has on mobility."

In recent months, Uber has received legal threats from district attorneys in San Francisco and Los Angeles, as well as the California branch of the National Federation of the Blind, while in Europe it is facing another shutdown order in Germany, despite prevailing in court just days beforehand.
     
FireWire
Mac Elite
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Montréal, Québec (Canada)
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Oct 13, 2014, 03:35 PM
 
come on! undercover passengers now? the taxi mafia, I mean lobby, is really powerful! It's time the law change... why would it be legal to look for a ride on kijiji but not on Uber? In Québec we have several legal sites for this, which connects people looking for a ride with people offering rides...
     
DiabloConQueso
Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Jun 2008
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Oct 13, 2014, 04:15 PM
 
There's a huge difference between scheduling a trip somewhere and then looking for people to split the cost by advertising on kajiji, versus being "on-call" to offer rides and take money from passengers. One of the major differences is that the Uber drivers are not simply driving to a destination for themselves and offering to take others with them in order to reduce the cost for everyone involved.

If you want to act like a taxi service, then you must abide by the local taxi service laws and regulations.

Uber drivers complaining that they just wanna give rides to people and get money for it without taxi-like regulation and oversight would be akin to someone saying that they just wanna serve food to people and get money for it but not be subject to health inspections and oversight.
     
Charles Martin
Mac Elite
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Maitland, FL
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Oct 13, 2014, 04:17 PM
 
To be fair, there are some serious safety, criminal background, and insurance concerns that should be met. I like knowing that my driver has met certain occupational standards, and is well-insured in case something happens. I'm all for innovation, but some of these companies cut corners literally and figuratively ...
Charles Martin
MacNN Editor
     
jimoase
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Apr 2008
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Oct 14, 2014, 12:22 PM
 
Who doesn't know that registrations and regulations are "for your own good" and not to keep competition out of the market place?

Business almost never colludes government to protect they business at the public's expense....almost never.
     
   
Thread Tools
 
Forum Links
Forum Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Top
Privacy Policy
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:18 PM.
All contents of these forums © 1995-2017 MacNN. All rights reserved.
Branding + Design: www.gesamtbild.com
vBulletin v.3.8.8 © 2000-2017, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.,