5 of Uber’s 6 New York City bases suspended by taxi regulator
The majority of Uber’s New York City bases have been temporarily closed by the city's transport commission after the taxi-hailing app declined to hand over ride records.
The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC), the agency responsible for licensing and regulating New York City's cabs, private hires and limousines, deemed that five of Uber’s six New York City bases must close until records of the firm’s business dealings are passed over, according to Business Insider.
The TLC ruled on Tuesday that the bases must be suspended until they comply with the ruling. Uber claimed that the TLC directive demanding the records was in direct violation of the Fourth Amendment which “prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures”. The taxi-hailing app also claimed the requested information is “confidential, proprietary and protected as trade secrets.”
The TLC responded that “the practice is necessary to ensure adequate protection and public safety”. The directive says that the “licensee must truthfully answer all questions and comply with all communications, directives, and summonses from the Commission or its representatives”.
An Uber spokesman said: “Uber continues to operate legally in New York City, with tens of thousands of partner drivers and hundreds of thousands of riders relying on the Uber platform for economic opportunity and safe, reliable rides. We are continuing a dialogue with the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission on these issues.”
Uber told Business Insider that the ban would not affected the firm's ability to operate in the region.
This comes after Uber New York City general manager Josh Mohrer was discplined for breaching the firm’s privacy policy by spying on a Buzzfeed reporter in November.