Florida Taxicab Association Assails Uber's Rating of Passengers - Cites Safety, Privacy and Discrimination

ORLANDO, Fla., April 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Today the Florida Taxicab Association called Uber's rating of passengers "dangerous and discriminatory."  In recent legislative testimony in Tallahassee, it was revealed to lawmakers that Uber rates passengers and the Uber "driver has the ability to see ratings of you."  The testimony continued that Uber could then decide "if you are somebody" they may "reject service to" in the future.  (Source:  Florida House of Representatives, Transportation & Highway Safety Subcommittee – March 24, 2014)

"Why else would Uber 'rate' a passenger except to deny them service in the future?" asked Louie Minardi, President of the Florida Taxicab Association and Yellow Cab operator in Tampa, FL.  "Taxis in Florida and throughout the nation are expressly prohibited by local regulations from denying anyone service."

Taxis are highly regulated in most every community they serve.  They are prohibited from denying service to any consumer.  In the City of Orlando for example, the local ordinance states:  "No taxicab driver shall refuse any request for transportation from any orderly passenger where the destination of the trip is within the Tri-County Area."

"Allowing Uber to 'rate passengers' and ultimately deny them service in the future, takes us back to a dark place in history," says Roger Chapin, Florida Taxicab Association Board Member and Vice President for Mears Transportation in Orlando, FL.  "How do they rate poor tippers, an elderly person who requires more assistance, someone who regularly needs a short trip to the doctor, someone whom the driver may just not like the way they look?"

The Daily Beast reporter, Olivia Nuzzi, recently reported a personal experience in which her privacy and personal safety was put in serious risk by Uber's rating system.

The Florida Taxicab Association believes allowing Uber drivers to rate passengers for the decision on providing future service is unlawful, dangerous, an invasion of privacy and discriminatory.  Uber however has a long history of only providing service WHEN they want, to WHO they want, WHERE they want and CHARGING what they want.  If they get their way in Tallahassee, local governments will be outlawed from ensuring Uber follows the rules of the road.

The Association recently released a poll showing Uber's practice of only serving customers with "smart phones" and credit cards, already leaves out roughly 50% of the public. 

According to University of Central Florida Professor and PHD James Wright, "UBER-ineligible Floridians are disproportionately Hispanic (59%) and African American (55%), low income (70% not eligible among those earning less than 25K per year vs. 26% in the highest income group), and the elderly (64% not eligible among those 65 and older)."

SOURCE Florida Taxicab Association