Justice Dept. opens criminal investigation into Uber: report

The Hill ^ | 05/04/17 | John Bowden

[rod5591]

The Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation into ride-hailing company Uber over software that its drivers used to avoid law enforcement, Reuters reported Thursday.

[DesertRhino]

No, not lost. But you are. The DOJ diving into a local case about some taxi avoiding a city licensing rule? That ain’t federal sport.

The city of Portland or State of Oregon doing it, stupid, but fair.

[semimojo]

At this point, the Sheriff of Nottingham shows up and says, “Prince John wants a share of the money you’ve earned.”

In this case, if the good people of Nottingham wanted a different result they would elect a different Sheriff.

[dsc]

“In this case, if the good people of Nottingham wanted a different result they would elect a different Sheriff.”

I don’t think that’s necessarily true. Besides, how would changing sheriffs help? The sheriff is just a lackey. Correcting the situation would require draining the entire swamp, perhaps even statewide, and who the heck knows how to do that?

In the meantime, I don’t blame UBER for doing what they should be free to do anyway.

[semimojo]

Besides, how would changing sheriffs help? The sheriff is just a lackey.

Not in Nottingham. The Sheriff was the law.

Here, the people of Portland get to make their own laws about taxis in their city.

[dsc]

“Not in Nottingham. The Sheriff was the law.”

No, the sheriff was a vassal.

“Here, the people of Portland get to make their own laws about taxis in their city.”

Without researching it, I would be willing to bet that they don’t. I would bet that those laws have been and continue to be made by corrupt politicians who don’t give a furry little rat’s butt about the will of the people.

[Still Thinking]

There’s a legal obligation to seek out every cop you can find now? I wasn’t aware of that.

[binreadin]

Bottom line is that the taxis have to obey the law and Uber isn't. Uber also hit the news a few weeks ago because they hired only foreign engineers here on visas. They are aiming to put the taxicab businesses out of business. They already jack their prices up if demand is heavy, and they are aiming to do away with human drivers altogether. What happens when taxis disappear and only driverless robot cars are on the road, charging what they want, bringing us where they think we should go? I was a big Uber supporter early on, but there are key moral flaws in that operation now.

[Az Joe]

jackass idiot

[dsc]

“I was a big Uber supporter early on, but there are key moral flaws in that operation now.”

Those are reasoned arguments that must be considered. Some people here could take a lesson from you.

The things you mention do seem like moral flaws. On the other hand, I don’t see how ticketing individual drivers is likely to correct the problem with hiring foreign engineers.

[bankwalker]

They already jack their prices up if demand is heavy,

I was under the impression that the passenger requests a ride and the available drivers in the area bid on it. Am I correct on this?

[M Kehoe]

I’d like to know the status of the investigation into voter fraud and intimidation in the last election.

5.56mm