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Uber Suspends Australian Transport Inspector Accounts To Block Stings
jaa101 writes In Australia Uber is reportedly suspending the accounts used by government transport inspectors conducting sting operations. The article suggests that a new handset, credit card and email account are all needed to get a new, unblocked account. If inspectors can only issue one or two fines before they're blocked then the sting operations will cost more than the fines. Presumably the Uber app can block based on IMEI, SIM and/or phone number.
Scores of women have now be raped by Uber drivers, who don't need to show any credentials, but just pretend to be someone providing a ride.
Could be treated just like speeding and red light camera tickets. The ticket is issued to the registered owner of the car.
Apparently not under the existing laws. If they go to the trouble of changing the law I think they'll go a different way, like nasty penalties for repeat offences and, more likely, finding a way to hit Uber directly with some conspiracy to offend law with huge penalties for corporations.
Australia REQUIRES hire car and taxi drivers to be operating under commercial licenses and insurance (this is not optional), private insurance for drivers is considered invalid if you are operating as a for hire service here and hence you are uninsured. It isn't specifically uber that is unlicensed and uninsured it is the drivers. Your normal drivers license and insurance is not valid for operating such a service in Australia.
except in most cases they are insured and they are licensed. What's driving this shit is the large cab companies having a shit fit over the fact that this startup has 1/10 the number of cars in the area yet are doing 10x the business.
Problem for EVERYBODY is that the people who issue the licenses are the people who legislate and the people who prosecute. They all piss in the same pot, so if you get onside with the police, you're onside with the city council as well and they will lick your balls if you pay them enough in backhanders (AKA campaign contributions).
if you are operating a hire vehicle without a public transport/taxi/hire vehicle license then you actually aren't licensed or insured. Here in Canberra that license is issued by the local motor registry, cab companies and even local government have no say in who is issued one. If you do the police checks, don't have a criminal history, do the medicals and have the required experience and pay for the license anyone can get one, but if you haven't done that then you are unlicensed and uninsured if you are driving any sort of public transport.
In Australia a driver of ANY public transport needs to go to the local motor registry office. They have to have a police check done, they must pass medical requirements, they must also have a certain amount of driving experience (these rules differ slightly between states but are generally very similar), once you pass the basic requirements you can get your standard license upgraded to a commercial vehicle/public transport license. You also have two types of insurance. private car insurance and commercial car insurance. these are not requirements on Uber, they are requirements for driver/owner of the car. if you are operating your car in a commercial capacity then your private insurance is deemed invalid during that time as you are only covered for use as a private transport. here is the ACT commercial/hire car license application
http://www.rego.act.gov.au/__d...
The cost structure for Uber drivers is very similar to taxi services and over time will approach them.
Except for the cost to the taxi operators for their medallion. Since there is a a limited number of medallions and you need one to operate they tend to get transferred at great cost. For example a quick Google query for cost of taxi medallion nyc tells us that the current cost is down to $840,000 from a peak of $1.05 million in June 2013.
So the major cost of operation becomes the cost of financing the medallion. In fact (again according to Google) in most instances the medallions are owned by investment companies and leased to actual drivers.
Uber exists to disrupt the requirement for the medallions. They provide a lower friction billing system that makes it easier for both users and drivers to participate.
The ONLY people who are against Uber in the long term are the current owners of medallions. If Uber succeeds their investments will be valueless.
Yeah, thats going to get thrown out of court with prejudice, and potentially fines or jail time for contempt.
Its as ridiculous as those notices on piracy bulletin boards thats said "if you are a member of law enforcement you do not have permission to enter".
"Uber Australia requires a K class (taxi/charter vehicle) license to be a driver, so they are covered for that situation."
False.
I had a look at Uber's signup system for Brisbane, QLD
UberX
---------
You Are...
At least 21 years old, with an Australian drivers license and comprehensive insurance.
(ie: illegally driving commercially)
Never asked me about whether I was licensed to carry commercial passengers.
UberBlack:
---------------
You Are...
A professional chauffeur with a commercial license and commercial auto insurance.
(legal)
http://www.london24.com/news/u...
http://www.citylab.com/commute...
http://techcrunch.com/2014/01/...
We don't have a medallion system here in the UK, so explain why there are people against here here...
Here, a 3 year license to operate a taxi will typically set you back £355 for the drivers license, £600 for the vehicle license (vehicle under 3 years old) and £460 for the operator license (covers up to 5 vehicles). Private hire vehicles are slightly cheaper.
£1,500 for a 3 year license to operate a taxi - that's not exactly a massive investment nor is it a huge barrier to entry. Pay that money, pass the tests and you have yourself the ability to start earning money by operating a taxi.
Taxi fares are also fixed in the UK by the local councils, so there is no gouging or "surge pricing". You can calculate how much your fare is going to be before you even get into the taxi.