Re: Taxi or pirates?
@AC
'Private hire cars' or 'minicabs' in London (other councils can invoke their own regulations) do need to be licensed and they do have plates and the driver does need to have real insurance. They also have to agree to a fee up-front and cannot be metered.
THIS, at least in London, is the big area of dispute.
Tfl has this to say:
"The rapid pace at which smartphone based technology has been developing in recent years has led to a need for clarity about what is required in order for apps to comply with the regulatory framework in London and to ensure there is a level playing field for all operators."
There is a "need for clarity" because it is not clear. Directly taking the words of Tfl:
"On the issue of taximeters, the law is unclear and we have taken a provisional view. We will be asking the High Court to provide a binding ruling. This is the sensible approach, and we hope that London's taxi drivers and private hire drivers and operators will work with us to bring clarity on this issue."
That was Leon Daniels - Managing Director of Surface Transport at Tfl.
This referral to the High Court has been delayed due to pending legal action but the fact remains that Tfl have admitted that, though they are of the opinion that method of metering trips used by Uber does not fall under the definitions of a taximeter, the law is "unclear'.
That is what one would call a 'grey area'.
Whether any particular person likes/loves/loathes Uber or supports the Black Cabbies or want to see them brought down a peg or just wants cheaper trips - the fact is that the law is not clear and thus it has been referred to the High Court.