UBER UPDATE INTL
“These were very deliberate killings. This wasn't hurried in any way, shape or form,” prosecutor Jeffrey Getting said at the time. “They were intentional, deliberate and I don’t want to say casually done. Coldly done is what I want to say.” The shootings put a heightened focus on Uber and its protocol for approving drivers, who are considered independent contrac- tors and not employees. A CNN investigation last year found that ride-sharing companies Uber and Lyft have approved thousands of people who should have been disqualified because of criminal records, according to state agencies and lawsuits. Dalton passed a background check and had no criminal record. “For all intents and purposes, he was your average Joe,” Kalama- zoo Public Safety Chief Jeff Hadley said at the time. At the sentencing hearing, family members of the victims gave state- ments as Dalton sat quietly in an orange prison outfit. Michigan does not have the death penalty, and state law mandates that first-degree murder be punished with life in prison without the possibility of parole. Emily Lemmer spoke about the difficulty of living without her father and brother, particularly during her recent wedding. Carruthers, who survived being shot, pleaded with Dalton to look at her during her victim impact statement. A defence attorney objected, but the judge informed the court that Dalton’s participa- tion in the victim impact statements - or lack thereof - would be noted. Dalton’s disengaged presence contrasted with a court hearing months after the shooting when he interrupted Carruthers with rambling statements. He later attempted to stand up in court, and court officers restrained him and dragged him out of the courtroom.
UBER AND LYFT RAISE PRICES IN NEW YORK CITY, CITING WAGE LAW
Uber raised prices in New York City on Friday 2 February with a new mini- mum wage rule now taking effect. According to Bloomberg, because the rule requires that drivers be compensated for
their
return trips after taking passengers outside the city, some out-of-town fares will incur a surcharge. An Uber representa- tive declined to say how much more expensive rides would become. Lyft Inc. also raised prices, citing a new minimum wage. In an email sent to drivers it said that “passengers will see increased fares, which may lead to fewer rides as people find alternative ways to travel around the city.” Lyft, too, declined to say how much its prices would rise. On top of those price hikes, Uber and Lyft passengers in much of Manhattan will start paying $2.75 more per trip, and 75 cents per trip for group rides. Those are separate, state congestion sur- charges that a New York Supreme Court judge ruled last month could take effect while a challenge from taxi drivers and medallion owners proceeds.
MARCH 2019
As for its New York City drivers, Uber said, some offers of bonus pay may no longer be available, and starting in May its premium Uber Black service will be restricted to drivers with at least a 4.85 cus- tomer rating out of 5. As of September, it will additionally be restricted to those with a vehicle from a narrowed list of options. Passengers will now have five rather than two minutes to arrive at the pickup point, though drivers will get paid more for the time they spend waiting after that. On the other hand, Uber drivers will get their raise right away. The wage rule, passed in December by the city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission, guarantees drivers minimum gross pay of $27.86 an hour, so that their pay after expenses will be at least $17.22 an hour. Both Lyft and Juno filed lawsuits to block the rule. Lyft said in its suit that the rule, which ties minimum pay to how often drivers have a passenger in their vehicles, gives “an automatic and perpetual advantage” to Uber. The minimum-wage rule is part of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s effort to cap the growth of the app-based car services and reduce traffic congestion.
UBER SUES NYC OVER RULES THAT CAPPED RIDE-HAILING DRIVER LICENCES
Uber is suing New York City over its cap on licences issued to for-hire vehicles in the latest conflict between technology com- panies and the Big Apple. According to the Financial Times,
the ride-hailing
company filed a lawsuit in New York state court on Friday 17 February contesting a measure passed by the city council last year, which was part of a package of regulations meant to address the explosive growth of ride-hailing. The council approved a 12-month freeze on new for-hire licences and commissioned a study by the Taxi and Limousine Commission of how app-based services, such as Uber and Lyft, affect traffic congestion and wages, among other issues. It also delegated authority to the TLC to set a permanent cap on licences depending on the study’s findings. Uber’s legal action further escalates tensions between the city and the company, which faced off over a similar proposal to regulate app-based car-booking in 2015. Uber prevailed in that battle, thanks to a costly public relations and lobbying campaign that defeated efforts by Bill de Blasio, New York City’s mayor, to regulate it. While Uber ran an expensive ad blitz against the laws last year, it was unable to prevent them from passing. Uber’s suit argues that New York state law does not give the city the authority to limit the number of for-hire vehicle licences. It also said the cap conflicted with another part of the regulation package: a new minimum wage formula for drivers using ride-hailing apps. “The City Council’s new law guarantees a living wage for drivers, and the administration should not have blocked New Yorkers from taking advantage of it by imposing a cap. We agree that fighting congestion is a priority, which is why we support the state’s vision for congestion pricing, the only evidence-based plan to reduce traf- fic and fund mass transit,” said Harry Hartfield, an Uber spokesman. Lyft and Juno have filed a separate lawsuit against the city chal- lenging the way it is implementing the wage floor. Uber did not join in that effort.
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