2 Uber executives ordered to stand trial in France

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

PARIS (AP) — Two Uber France managers have been ordered to stand trial on behalf of the San Francisco-based company on charges including "deceptive commercial practices" and complicity in illegal activities linked to its low-cost ride-hailing service.

The Paris prosecutor's office said Tuesday that Thibault Simphal and Pierre-Dimitri Gore-Coty were taken into custody on Monday after a police sweep at Uber France headquarters. They will appear in a Paris court on Sept. 30.

French authorities say the low-cost UberPop service is illegal and are frustrated that Uber doesn't pay the same taxes and social charges as traditional taxis. Uber calls the French system outdated and says it needs reform to keep up with technological changes.

Claiming unfair competition, taxi drivers staged a violence-marred strike on the issue last week, blocking many French roads.



FILE - This Thursday, June 25, 2015 file photo shows a striking taxi driver holding a placard which read, "Stop Uber, Stop listening," referring to the new US spying report in France, during a taxi drivers demonstration in Paris, France. French authorities took two Uber managers into custody for questioning on Monday over "illicit activity" involving its low-cost service. The detentions came amid rising tensions between the government and the ride-hailing company, which culminated last week in a violence-marred taxi strike that blocked roads around the country. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/d7709274649a4d1ea0a34465d05fafc9/2-uber-executives-ordered-stand-trial-france

[Orrex]

1. I won't know what to think until the faithful Uber cheerleaders show up to tell me.

[philosslayer]

2. Best news I've heard all day.

N/t

[cosmicone]

3. There was a time when "progressive" meant embracing new ideas and

conquering new frontiers for the good of humankind whilst "conservative" meant fear of change and attempts to maintain status quo.

The situation with unions turns these definitions on their head. Unions want things the way they were and no change unless it benefits them. When technology doesn't allow a halt to progress, there is violence.

Why don't the taxi operators get a few geeks and have an app to do what uber does? I, as a consumer, would feel far more secure with a taxi (which is well-regulated) than a stranger. The taxi operators could beat the pants off uber.

[d_legendary1]

4. That's the same thing the New Yorker said about Uber

http://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/the-long-history-of-the-fight-against-uber


"It was essentially a rebellion against free markets and the Industrial Revolution. It was skilled workers raging against the influx of unskilled labor."

[Omaha Steve]

5. Isn't it more about a level playing field than a union thing?

Should the new technology have the same insurance requirements as taxi's in case of an injury?

There was an Uber driver in Omaha last year that was at fault and the rider was injured. Seems the drivers insurance had lapsed. OOPS.

Taxi drivers in Nebraska have to have a taxi license, background check, etc. It is nice to know the cab driver has no DUI's, violence, felonies, etc.

[cosmicone]

6. Precisely my point .. the taxi operators should develop an app and compete n/t

[Recursion]

8. Paris has that.

I used it. Works fine. There's still an artificial shortage of cabs kept in place by a medallion system. Rent seeking does not deserve solidarity.

[snagglepuss]

14. Uber is a tax avoidence scam and a way around regulations that

have been placed on the cab industry to insure passenger safety.

[Recursion]

7. This is capital disguising itself as labor

The injured party here is the medallion owners, not the drivers.

[snagglepuss]

13. Uber is nothing but REGRESSIVE as it is a means that a multi-million

corporation avoids paying taxes and all costs associated with maintain regulations that are set by the State, regulations put in place to protect consumers.


CBC Radio One did an excellent report on the the so-called sharing economy and it reveals that the drivers are basically working on zero hour contracts and NOT at all sharing the wealth generated by sharing economy, UBER's owners maybe multi-millionaires, the drivers certainly are not.

[Recursion]

15. Lots of taxicab drivers have switched to Uber because they make more money

The person who makes money off of a taxicab is generally not the driver but the medallion owner, and the cartel-like nature of medallion systems means in most cities that's not the driver.

[snagglepuss]

19. Do you not understand that taxpayers are subsidizing UBER ?

Money is being made because taxes are not being paid. If this is allowed why should any company than pay taxes?

[Recursion]

20. Taxpayers subsidize medallion systems too because they create a false scarcity of cabs

Medallion owners have had decades to sort this out by moving out of a cartel system into a standards-based system, and have refused. I have little sympathy at this point, particularly given how little their drivers tend to make.

[Starry Messenger]

9. k&r!

[ToxMarz]

10. Uber calls the French system outdated and says it needs reform to keep up with technological change

French authorities say the low-cost UberPop service is illegal and are frustrated that Uber doesn't pay the same taxes and social charges as traditional taxis. Uber calls the French system outdated and says it needs reform to keep up with technological changes.

Because they can make more money if they pocket those expenses. Privatize the profits, socialize the expenses, flood the market with cheap inexperienced unregulated labor.

[Pharaoh]

11. As a Taxi Driver (this^^^)

[Recursion]

16. French taxis have a hailing app (nt)

[ToxMarz]

17. And they pay required taxes and fees, Uber doesn't

[Recursion]

21. They have to do whatever a livery car has to do

If that doesn't include taxes, maybe they should look at that.

[ToxMarz]

22. According to the article...

French authorities say the low-cost UberPop service is illegal and are frustrated that Uber doesn't pay the same taxes and social charges as traditional taxis.

[Recursion]

23. It's illegal if you consider them taxis and legal if you consider them a livery service

So, it's kind of an open question. If they're a taxi service the company basically can't operate in that jurisdiction (because medallion owners keep a strict limit on how many "taxis" a city can have).

[ToxMarz]

24. They are not operating under the requirements as a livery service either

They make their own rules, their drivers and cars are not licensed to perform either service.

[appalachiablue]

12. K & R

[happyslug]

18. I thought "Arret" was French for "Stop"

That is according my my English French Computer Translator and the these photos:

o=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=ThuUVcr_J4qmyATGkYfgCw&sqi=2&ved=0CDgQsAQ#imgrc=F0KsaR4Pov4G2M%3A

Through it appears "Arret" is used only in Quebec "Stop signs" (and then in the French Speaking areas only, in English Speaking areas the Signs used the word "STOP&quot . In France itself Stop Signs used the word STOP, for France recognize STOP as a French Word.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stop_sign

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Stop?uselang=ms

"Stop" appears to be a word the French "Borrowed" from English, just like several French words have become "English" Words. Thus the reluctance of the French Speakers in Quebec from using that word, while it appears to have been fully embraced by the French in France.