http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2013/07/29/sfo-citizen-arrests-internet-rideshare/ SFO Officials Make Citizen Arrests Of Internet Rideshare Drivers MILLBRAE (CBS SF) — In the past month, San Francisco International Airport officials have been citing and arresting drivers from mobile-app enabled rideshare companies that pick up and drop off passengers, an airport spokesman said. Airport spokesman Doug Yakel said there have been seven citizen arrests issued to “various offenders” since July 10. The airport had issued cease and desist letters to several rideshare companies, including Lyft, Sidecar and Uber, in April. Since then, Yakel said airport officials, in conjunction with airport police, had been “admonishing” drivers that came to the airport. Yakel said the companies are not permitted to offer their services at SFO and they are now being arrested for unlawful trespassing. The state Public Utilities Commission, which regulates and licenses passenger carriers, has been looking into how to regulate these new types of companies. An evaluation of ridesharing services will come to the commission sometime this week after being mulled since the beginning of the year, CPUC spokesman Chris Chow said. Taxi drivers are holding a noon rally at San Francisco City Hall Tuesday to “keep taxis regulated and safe” and are calling for the end of ridesharing services. The taxi group, comprised of members from the San Francisco Cab Drivers Association and the United Taxicab Workers of San Francisco, are demanding that city officials and regulatory agencies consider rideshare companies as illegal taxi services. The protesters claim that the drivers are exempt from regulation, vehicle inspections, and insurance and driver requirements. They are calling the growing practice a “clear public safety hazard.” Dean Clark, a former taxi driver for nearly a decade, said authorities should be targeting the companies rather than the rideshare drivers. He said the drivers are simply offering rides to people for a donation, and that unlike what the taxi industry claims, many of the drivers are working students, semi-retired people and single parents. Clark said the pick-up area is taxi domain because there is a pick-up fee, and rideshare drivers know and respect that. He said rideshare drivers should be allowed to drop off customers at the airport without being “harassed” by airport officials. Representatives from Lyft and Sidecar were not available Monday afternoon and an Uber representative declined comment.
The taxi group is right out of Atlas Shrugged. Corporations using government to distort what could be a free market to their favor. How about the PUC figuring they need to figure out how to regulate these new types of companies? They're out to regulate these people who work for a living out of their jobs. And you wonder why the economy is so sluggish and so many people need welfare.
I used CL to find a 'for fee' ride to the airport. I live in Vancouver close to the airport and was turned down by taxi companies as it was too early (4AM) and not enough fare for the cabbie ($20 ride). A very nice young lady picked me up in her car and dropped me off. She was right on time and I paid her $30. She has been unemployed for a few years aside from temp office jobs.
God, what has happened to California? When did the people who thought of themselves as hippies in the 60s and 70s become fascists once they got into power?
We never pursued power. That was you yuppies. We hippies retired as early as we could, so we'd have time to monopolize sports message boards.
Bullshit. Many of the hippie type activists of the day are now political operatives for the Democrat party or are lobbyists. Heck, one (Bill Clinton) was president and another (Hillary) was Secy. of State.
The hippies of the 60s hated The Man. If anything, they were Libertarians. It seems they got a taste of power and now want to dictate to everyone else how they should live. What the hell happened?
