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Two Uber managers detained in France over 'illicit' low-cost service

theguardian.com

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Re: Two Uber managers detained in France over 'illicit' low-cost service

#11

Post by Uberphallus »

therobot24 wrote: post #8
dylanjermiah wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The licenses are what made the taxi system so inefficient.

you are correct, but blatantly ignoring the law is usually not the best way to fix that

It is, as paying fines is cheaper than paying for a license.

When you get to that point, it's obvious that the regulation is backwards, and it's nobody but taxi drivers that made it this way: they got licenses for free, then fought for their right to transfer them for money, then they fought to limit new licensing. Basically they lobbied for free money and screwing customers.

Re: Two Uber managers detained in France over 'illicit' low-cost service

#12

Post by andrewtbham »

makeitsuckless wrote: post #9

> The standoff reflects larger tensions in France over how to regulate fast-moving technology and stay globally competitive while ensuring labour protections. This kind of biased journalism just pisses me off. Uber has nothing to do with "fast-moving technology". They could have done this service with on old fashioned phone dispatch in the 50s and it would still be the same illegal operation. Sure, they've added some…

Uber uses machine learning to route drivers, not dispatchers.

Re: Two Uber managers detained in France over 'illicit' low-cost service

#13

Post by dylanjermiah »

makeitsuckless wrote: post #9

> The standoff reflects larger tensions in France over how to regulate fast-moving technology and stay globally competitive while ensuring labour protections. This kind of biased journalism just pisses me off. Uber has nothing to do with "fast-moving technology". They could have done this service with on old fashioned phone dispatch in the 50s and it would still be the same illegal operation. Sure, they've added some…

I think the 2 million-ish rides per day is evidence that the laws are backwards and needed to be broken. They were anti-consumer and only served to protect the taxi cartel.

Re: Two Uber managers detained in France over 'illicit' low-cost service

#14

Post by kristofferR »

dylanjermiah wrote: post #13
makeitsuckless wrote: post #9

> The standoff reflects larger tensions in France over how to regulate fast-moving technology and stay globally competitive while ensuring labour protections. This kind of biased journalism just pisses me off. Uber has nothing to do with "fast-moving technology". They could have done this service with on old fashioned phone dispatch in the 50s and it would still be the same illegal operation. Sure, they've added some…

I think the 2 million-ish rides per day is evidence that the laws are backwards and needed to be broken. They were anti-consumer and only served to protect the taxi cartel.

Yeah.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pvri8hpMViM

Re: Two Uber managers detained in France over 'illicit' low-cost service

#15

Post by sp332 »

david_p wrote: post #6

So as to make things clear, UberPop has been outlawed in France months ago but keeps operating. The fines are considered "operating costs" by UberPop, who takes care of paying the fines when UberPop drivers are getting caught. You can remove the quotes at illicit.

There are quotes on "illicit" because it is a quote.

Re: Two Uber managers detained in France over 'illicit' low-cost service

#16

Post by therobot24 »

dylanjermiah wrote: post #10
therobot24 wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

you are correct, but blatantly ignoring the law is usually not the best way to fix that

What would be a superior method?

I'm not a public policy expert by any means, nor do i claim to be one, however there's a pretty charted history of how laws can be changed. Examples include protests, lobbying, and ballot measures just to name a few. Don't fool yourself into thinking that Uber is on the moral high ground like some civil rights movement. The are a taxi company that is not following well-established procedure. If they want to continue to operate they should either adapt, or lobby for changing that procedure.

Re: Two Uber managers detained in France over 'illicit' low-cost service

#17

Post by ska »

dylanjermiah wrote: post #7
ddalex_ro wrote: post #5

I like Uber's service, but it's obvious that they are a taxi. A better taxi company, but a taxi; and they should get their licenses in order.

The licenses are what made the taxi system so inefficient.

It's not as cut and dried as getting rid of licenses.

A couple of examples:

- some things that come with licenses are plausibly desirable (commercial insurance, say) and have no other mechanism. Yes this argues for a different solution.

- adding vehicles to road networks at or near capacity (e.g. dense metro areas) can lead to systemic inefficiencies that are plausibly much worse that the positives from a putative increase in taxi efficiency.

- etc.

This at least deserves a broader policy discussion, and it may well turn out that in some areas there is a public policy advantage to constraining this market.

Re: Two Uber managers detained in France over 'illicit' low-cost service

#18

Post by murbard2 »

therobot24 wrote: post #8
dylanjermiah wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The licenses are what made the taxi system so inefficient.

you are correct, but blatantly ignoring the law is usually not the best way to fix that

Tell that to Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, Ghandi...

Re: Two Uber managers detained in France over 'illicit' low-cost service

#19

Post by aikah »

david_p wrote: post #6

So as to make things clear, UberPop has been outlawed in France months ago but keeps operating. The fines are considered "operating costs" by UberPop, who takes care of paying the fines when UberPop drivers are getting caught. You can remove the quotes at illicit.

To be accurate, the website and app itself (UberPop) aren't outlawed YET.

BUT it is illegal for UberPop drivers to continue taking clients and driving for UBER.

So technically UberPop isn't illegal, UberPop drivers ARE on the other hand performing an illegal activity.

HOWEVER in France, it is illegal to promote an illegal activity. Yesterday I heard an ad on GenerationFM promoting Uber and recruiting drivers.

So on this ground, managers at Uber France can be sued.

I think it's foolish to work for Uber France. Uber might pay you a lawyer or any fines if you get sued, but If you're sentenced and sent to prison? is it worth it to go to prison for Uber? or to have a record? because you're career will basically be over. And good luck moving to US with a record even if it is what Uber promised you if it would happen.

Re: Two Uber managers detained in France over 'illicit' low-cost service

#20

Post by sp332 »

murbard2 wrote: post #18
therobot24 wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

you are correct, but blatantly ignoring the law is usually not the best way to fix that

Tell that to Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, Ghandi...

Those people tried an awful lot of things before breaking the law. Uber doesn't seem to have tried very hard and just went for it.
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