Uber Technologies Inc. is an American international transportation network company headquartered in San Francisco, California.
The company is estimated to be worth $51 billion. The legality of Uber has been challenged by various governments and organisations, who claim that its use of drivers who are not licensed to drive taxis is illegal and potentially unsafe. Insurmountable evidence suggests there is a legitimate cause for concern.
Transport for London (TfL- the publicly funded subsidiary of The Mayor and City Hall) is responsible for regulating and licensing taxis and private hire trades in the Capital.
TfL has submitted an application to the High Court, for a binding declaration on whether smartphones (which use GPS technology to calculate the cost of fares charged in respect of any journey by reference to the distance travelled or time elapsed) adhere with the current law on 'taximeters'.
A taximeter is presently defined as; ‘a device for calculating the fare to be charged in respect of any journey by reference to the distance travelled or time elapsed since the start of the journey (or a combination of both).’
Private Hire Act 1998. 11(3) The device in a taxi is strictly regulated by TfL and is authorised by them for use only in licensed taxis.
Conversely, the use of a smartphone ‘taximeter’ is not certified for use and tariffs are open to alteration.
Although fares are calculated using the same methodology, TfL is of the opinion that a smartphone does not constitute a 'taximeter’ and is willing to spend millions of pounds of public money on legal costs to defend Uber’s working model.
If TfL is successful, it will mean that the private hire industry will no longer need to agree fares in advance, as a smartphone 'taximeter' does not contravene current legislation, and is therefore legal.
It is our view that TfL have not acted with complete transparency regarding the concessions afforded Uber by granting them a private hire operators license. In less that three years, TfL issued over 40,000 private hire licenses, thus facilitating the infiltration of drivers- working from the Uber platform- into the instant hire market.
TfL recently stated that proceedings in the High Court will be conducted in private. Given Uber's financial strength as a political lobbyist, we are calling on the Mayor to insist that proceedings are heard in public. It is only right and fair that a case of such magnitude and of great public interest, is conducted openly and honestly.
We conclude, that an unambiguous, publicly witnessed High Court declaration will bring clarity on this issue for all parties.
Justice must be seen to be done.
Sean Day
PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION
3 comments:
Done Sean ! Signature No. 90245
Semtex
TfL actions as a public body should be reasonable, impartial and transparent at all times. Have TfL challenged the petition by Uber for a closed court hearing ? If not you can guarantee TfL will put forward a weak case to further help Uber to dominate the Taxi market in the UK.
Why hasn't TfL suspended the operating license of Uber who clearly do not operate within the 1998 PH Act London ?
Why is the regulative body LTPH refusing to regulate UBER ?
How did Uber acquire an operating license without meeting the statutory requirements ?
Why is the Mayor Boris Johnson refusing to close the floodgate at LTPH for new PH applicants ? The Mayor has the power to change PH legislation through his office; Ken Livingstone imposed many changes to Hackney Carriages without going through the parliamentary procedure !
Everything points towards TfL colluding with Uber: Refusing to regulate, misuse of the system to issue Uber an operators license, senior officials lying to the GLA by supplying misinformation about Uber, Boris Johnson admitting the Prime Minister has a direct involvement with the Uber issue.
I believe this case will be a three ringed circus and that TfL will put a weak case to help legitimise instant hailing; a High Court ruling is all that is required - the Law Commissions recommendations will be quickly adopted, JOB DONE !
I have signed the petition regardless, as I believe TfL to be complicit in a corrupt agenda to legitimise Uber and PH instant plying for hire apps !
Do uber have a UK land line ?????? I got hailed by a woman yesterday morning she said are you an uber ???? No sorry I'm a black cab she was on the phone to uber at the same time on loud speaker the woman she was talking to had a very strong America voice is ubers call centre in the U.S. ?????? Sounds very strange To me I got hailed at 630 am so I'm guessing it was a UScall centre
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