SF Airport Officials Make Citizen Arrests of Internet Rideshare Drivers 510
transporter_ii writes "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. 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. 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."
Civil Offense = Arrested? (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Citizens arrest?? (Score:3, Interesting)
No, but tresspass is. The airport has banned those hiring the non-taxi rides. It's a jerk move, but it's legal.
Re:Sharing is evil (Score:4, Interesting)
These aren't shares in that sense. While the donations they suggest are technically not mandatory, if you don't pay them then you're cut out of the system quickly. They're for-profit companies running something closer to a limo service than what anyone would mean by "rideshare". Which is fine with me, the taxi monopolies are ludicrous. But it's not like they're arresting people for carpooling or slugging or something.
Re:Once more government protecting big business (Score:4, Interesting)
The fix for this and many other is to return the public green. Airports, malls all get built with public funds, eminent domain tax breaks etc. Need to amend the laws to make these public places. None of this trespass BS.
Re:Dispute - not often at all (Score:5, Interesting)
And you can challenge them on the spot and through the process if they won't follow the rules.
Three Civil engineers were building a large retaining wall on one of their property. The inspector showed up and said you can't build walls higher than 4 feet tall without a plan and inspection every few feet. The engineer who's property it was grabbed a sketch that was nothing more than line on paper, grabbed his seal and stamped and signed the "design plan" handed it to the inspector and informed the inspector that private inspection of the wall would be handled by the 3 on site engineers. The inspector called his boss who came out and told him to shut up.
Regulation is there to protect future owners of the property. You build the house wrong or don't follow code and you can end up killing someone. That inspection prevents you from being charged with homicide later. Inspection is a good thing even if some of the jackasses in the business are just that.