Uber Cars at risk in Brussels after ruling- Brussels court confiscates car of Uber driver
Car at risk in Brussels after ruling
Brussels court confiscates car of Uber driver; Taxi
companies applaud ruling
By Raf Casert, Associated Press 4 hours ago
BRUSSELS (AP) -- A driver for the Uber mobile app taxi
service had his car confiscated Monday after a Brussels court said the
ride-sharing service does not respect taxi regulations in the Belgian capital.
Jacques Verhaegen, the lawyer for the Uber driver, said
the company's drivers now "run the risk of having their car seized"
in the Belgian capital.
The service, which allows consumers to break free of
rigid fare structures criticized as protectionist and inefficient in many major
cities, has been banned in Brussels and has faced an uphill struggle in several
European nations as it tries to gain a foothold. Since its arrival on the scene
a couple of years ago, taxi drivers across the continent have been adamant
about protecting their turf.
Uber drivers use their own cars to pick up travelers.
Taxi federations complain they don't have to meet the same standards as
traditional cabbies do, giving them an unfair price advantage.
Judge Jeanne Lannoy highlighted those differences in her
ruling, pointing to the professional and medical qualifications of the driver,
the state of the vehicle and insurance coverage.
Uber said in a statement that the court's decision can be
challenged on appeal and hoped Brussels would soon change its rules to allow it
to offer its services for tech-savvy customers.
"We will stand by our driver partner supporting him
until the end of the legal proceeding and beyond," it said.
Sam Bouchal of the Brussels taxi federation welcomed the
ruling and said it should serve as a cautionary tale. "It should make
others think twice before they start illegal activities," he said.
Comments
Post a Comment