After Missing Drivers, Australian Authorities Go After UberX Cars

Aaron Cole
by Aaron Cole

Officials in New South Wales, Australia are banning UberX cars from their roads for three months after failing to prosecute their drivers, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Authorities charged 24 drivers with violating the state’s taxi laws, saying the UberX car-sharing service couldn’t properly monitor and vet its 4,000 drivers in Sydney. Those charges were dropped due to “evidentiary issues” and the drivers avoided fines up to $70,000.

Now the state says it’ll ban private UberX cars from the road instead.

“If drivers continue to offer illegal ride-sharing services – they will continue to risk registration suspensions and fines,” Peter Wells, New South Wales’ Road and Maritime Services director, told the Sydney Morning Herald.

Uber’s problems aren’t in Australia alone. On Monday, Uber’s European headquarters was raided by Dutch prosecutors who said its UberPOP service in that country, and UberPOP has been banned in other European countries such as Germany, France and Belgium.

[H/T to Jack for sending us this one.]


Aaron Cole
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  • -Nate -Nate on Sep 29, 2015

    I'm confused : Some uber drivers went missing or the govt. missed their chance at fining them ? . Here in So. Cal. the radio is jammed with commercials of young Women saying ' I think I'll make some easy money driving for uber ' ~ that's not going to end well . -Nate

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    • ClutchCarGo ClutchCarGo on Sep 29, 2015

      Those ads are running here in Chicago as well. Even my wife has asked me about Uber, wondering whether she could pick up a little extra cash while she's out and about herself. I'm working hard at discouraging that idea.

  • Pacificpom2 Pacificpom2 on Sep 29, 2015

    Seems that NSW doesn't like UBER, but, the Australian Capital Territory is going to allow UBER and to sooth the ruffled brows of the incumbent Taxi services/owners/drivers they are also reducing the cost of said taxi services. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-30/uber-able-to-enter-canberra-markert-from-late-october/6814804 Now this will create a conundrum. The ACT physically exists within the state of NSW and people regularly travel "out of state" to towns in NSW from Canberra, about a ten minute drive away. So if UBER is illegal in NSW, but legal in the ACT are we about to see border patrols to prevent UBER crossing the line?

  • MBella MBella on Sep 29, 2015

    I don't get how licensed Taxis are supposed to be any safer than Uber. When I was in Sydney, the taxis I road in were in a very poor state of repair. The suspension was clunking all over the place. I can't imagine the average Uber to be much worse.

  • Shortest Circuit Shortest Circuit on Oct 01, 2015

    Why people aren't revolting against taxi companies baffles me. Every single UBER ride I had had a courteous driver and a car that would pass inspection (+clean!). Every time someone tried to screw me over (long route) or take me in a clunking, rattling deathtrap, he was working for a "proper" taxi company. Proper here meaning, they kick up to the local/state government to keep competitors out.

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