Local cabbies concerned about drivers claiming to operate under Uber name in Monterey
Transportation start-up Uber is getting some push back, this time on the Central Coast. Some local taxi drivers are joining the long list of those who don’t like the way the company is doing business. One of those cabbies is taking his case to the state.
Local cabbie Alec Stefan said some drivers carrying passengers aren’t following the rules, even questioning if they are legit.
Uber drivers are only supposed to pick up fares who use the mobile app. The app also provides the name and license plate of the driver, so passengers can be sure their Uber ride is legitimately the one they requested. Street hailing is not allowed, but Stefan said he’s seeing that happen.
“It’s a big safety concern because you have these people driving in their big Uber cars,” Stefan said. “They don’t have their trade dress which marks them as an Uber car, sometimes they don’t have license plates. They drive down, they’re picking people up off the streets. So my concern in, how do we even know it’s an Uber driver? What’s going to stop someone from driving down the street saying, ‘Hey, I’m an Uber driver, come into my car drunk girls.’ And the worst of the worst happens. So, trying to prevent that from happening.”
Uber had this statement in response to our request for information:
“We are proud to connect hundreds of residents and visitors in Monterey to the people and places they love with the tap of an app. In Monterey and beyond, our technology makes it possible to focus on safety for riders and driver-partners before, during and after a trip with transparency and accountability.”–Laura Zapata, Uber Spokesperson
On Tuesday, Stefan took his complaint to the Monterey City Council. Not that the city can help. It doesn’t have the authority to regulate ride-shares. That’s up to the California Public Utilities Commission.
Uber said it conducts background checks on all of its drivers, and any drivers and riders who violate the company’s code of conduct will have their accounts deactivated. Stefan just wants accountability.
“That’s fine you want to make a living,” Stefan said. “Do it within your business model. Don’t do it where you’re going to put the local public at risk, cause you might be an OK guy, but you’re opening the door for someone who is not an OK person to come down here and start picking people up off the street.”
Stefan said he’s heading to San Francisco this week to voice his concerns to the P.U.C.
Even though the city doesn’t regulate Uber, the Monterey Police Department does take complaints. They say they’ve had two in the first six months of this year.
