Limousine Finder: 2016 at 03:24AM

Uber Gets Silly, Creepy & Cheap

Uber Requires Drivers To Take Selfies For Added Security: Some critics say it’s an acknowledgement by Uber that some drivers have never undergone background checks. The Verge article here

London Uber Passenger’s Horror Commute: Richard Beech called police after an altercation broke out between an Uber driver and a cyclist. After Beech decided to walk the rest of the way, he got an unexpected message around two hours later. Uber informed him he had completed his journey with the small matter of a 90-minute detour to a hospital. Mirror article here

Undercover Investigation Finds Lyft, Uber Drivers Accepting Passengers Illegally: The Colorado Public Utilities Commission has warned consumers against hailing rides off the street from Uber and Lyft drivers. Under state law, only traditional taxicabs can accept passengers hailing them on the street. The Denver Post article here

Man Claims Uber Laughed At Him When He Tried To Report Sexual Assault: A New York man says he was laughed at by an operator at Uber’s emergency hotline after reporting he was sexually assaulted by an Uber driver this month. The operator later hung up after refusing to refer the man to her manager. Gizmodo article here

Uber’s Terrifying “Ghost Drivers” Are Freaking Out Passengers In China: Passengers using the app in several cities have reported seeing their requests picked up by drivers with creepy profile photos of zombie faces. According to Chinese news site Sixth Tone, the point of these ghostly profiles is to scare passengers into canceling the trip, so they are fined for a few yuan (less than a dollar), which goes to the driver. Quartz article here

Keywords

apps China operators Colorado operators criminal incidents driver behavior London operators mobile applications New York operators Sexual Assault TNC travesty TNCs Uber

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This Stretch Puts The Live In Livery

<p>(Image from KGTV-10 video)</p> SAN DIEGO – Residents in Pacific Beach have been complaining about a stretch limousine they say hasn’t moved in days.

The white, Ford Excursion limo is parked on Chalcedony Street, and people who live there said they think people are living inside.

KGTV-10 San Diego article and video here

Keywords

criminal incidents law enforcement San Diego operators super-stretches vehicle security

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TNCs Dealt Blow In Florida County

<p>After years of debate, the Hillsborough Public Transportation Commission voted to mandate new rules and regulations for TNCs. (floridapolitics.com)</p>

TAMPA, Fla. — When TNCs first set up shop in Hillsborough County, Fla. a few years ago, they obviously didn’t realize the West Florida Livery Association (WFLA) would not sit by idly and allow unregulated private transportation services to operate in the Tampa Bay region.

After years of lobbying, testifying and presenting the limousine industry’s side of the story regarding illegal TNCs, the issue came to a head Thursday, Sept. 15, when the Hillsborough Public Transportation Commission (PTC) voted 5-2 to mandate new rules and regulations for TNCs.

Because the issue has been so controversial, the PTC’s vote was the front page headline in the Tampa Bay Times the following day. At the Sept. 21 meeting of the WFLA, members were in good spirits following the vote, but they also know that although they scored a victory, the fight will continue at the state level when the legislature again review bills that could regulate TNCs statewide.

The PTC’s new rules include mandatory fingerprinting, no price surges during state of emergencies, and all TNC vehicles must be no older than 10 years.

“It was a great day— finally they have to follow the rules,” said Tom Halsnik (Black Pearl Limousine/ Walsh Airport Service).

On a cautionary note, Justin Nystedt (Crowd Pleaser Limos) said, “Uber isn’t leaving the county” following the new regulations because there is another public meeting to formally approve the on the vote on Oct. 13, where the TNCs will certainly make another push to rescind the new regulations.

See Tampa Bay Times article.