– 12/08/14, 14:24
© anp. The taxi app Uber.
Four Questions Thanks Uber is as good as anyone with a four-door car to work as a taxi driver. But today Appeals Tribunal ruled for the Economy again that the taxi service UberPOP is illegal. The company Uber should stop the service on penalty of a fine of up to 100,000 euros. Wedding explains in four questions how it exactly is.
What happened?
In October, four UberPOP drivers arrested because they made taxi ride without a permit. They each received a fine of 1500 euros. They go the wrong again, they can be fined from 10,000 to 40,000 euros. The company itself also periodic penalty payments imposed: every time there is a violation detected, Uber will be fined 10,000 to a maximum of 100,000 euros <. / strong>
What does Uber?
Uber find the unjust fines. The company calls outdated law. “The current wetgegeving dates from 2000, when there were no smartphones and apps,” said director Niek van Leeuwen. Furthermore, note the company, as they say, enough of the quality of the drivers. The fines would work against a healthy competition in the taxi market. Uber objected and the judge made short work there today.
What does the judge?
That the fine is justified. An official taxi driver must have a current medical certificate and a rounded education and driver qualifications. UberPOP drivers are actually amateurs and do not have similar papers. Thereby violating the UberPOP drivers law.
According to the judge, the company Uber provides not only the technological means to bring the drivers and customers together, but Uber by offering the platform more involved than that. Uber select drivers, knows the customers, payments and handles strokes twenty percent of the profits. That is why, according to the judge, the involvement of Uber beyond just providing the technology. It is not just the drivers who break the law by playing for taxi, but Uber thereby also breaking the law.
But does it work?
Wedding reporter Niels Markus took the acid test and made the same trip with a regular cab and UberPOP. The ride of Allegiance to editors took Uber headquarters with the Taxi Central Amsterdam only 17 minutes, but it took € 24.19. The driver of UberPOP was just the fog. “The driver is still missing an important skill that do possess many taxi drivers: simultaneous talk and drive on the A10, he accidentally grabbed the wrong turn.”. The ride took this a lot longer: 22 minutes. But the trip was 15 euros cheaper.
Uber controversial from the start
Today Uber was banished from the Indian capital New Delhi, after a UberPOP driver was arrested in connection with a rape. But the service has been calling for more intense reactions.
In Germany, France, Belgium and Spain, the court has already addressed the services of the company that was founded in San Francisco in 2009.
When Uber this year in different Markets appeared on the scene, taxi drivers went into action. They protested and went on strike because they believe that the company and the drivers who work for it are guilty of unfair competition. Barcelona were in October even cars of two Uber drivers fired.
Judges in different countries share the opinion of the taxi drivers. Uber may not offer services more completely in the Spanish cities of Madrid and Barcelona. In the Belgian capital Brussels and the German cities of Berlin and Hamburg is the UberPOP service prohibited.
In Germany, the judge banned the service nationwide, but another judge Uber is allowed to continue to provide services until the case has been finally decided. There follows an appeal. Was also available in France UberPOP despite a ban because Uber appeal.
At the same time Uber services are permitted in many other European cities, already ensures the steady expansion of the service to local drivers for discontent. Meanwhile Uber according to the website in 51 countries. Europe is about 42 cities. In that list, however, are also cities like Frankfurt and Barcelona, where therefore prohibited.
Neelie Kroes fierce
Incidentally Uber will not only endure criticism. Then European Commissioner Neelie Kroes said the opponents of the app to be realistic. “Digital innovations are here to stay. We have to work with them, not against them work.” They fell fell into a blog Brussels Minister Brigitte Grouwels adamant: “I am furious What right system this way, you do not protect jobs, Madame, so irritable you people alone.?”
By the way it looks there is no indication that Uber will be really gone soon. In June, the taxi pulled into a second round of financing $ 1.2 billion opbij investors and it is now more than 40 billion dollars appreciated. That’s more than listed companies like Twitter and American Airlines.
No comments:
Post a Comment