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I'm putting money on UberCab becoming a members-only service/co-op type system where you have to be a member in order to request a car. I'm not intimately fami

I'm putting money on UberCab becoming a members-only service/co-op type system where you have to be a member in order to request a car. I'm not intimately familiar with the taxi laws, but I bet they don't specify what private organizations can do.

llimllib 16y ago
> I'm not intimately familiar with the taxi laws, but I bet they don't specify what private organizations can do. Huh? They have to. They don't let private limo organizations pick you up without a 1-hour reservation, for example, as stated in the article. Furthermore, Ubercab already is a private organization. I'm sure I'm missing something, can you explain why it would somehow become legal if it was a members-only organization?
- defen 16y ago
  I can open a private, members only club which serves alcohol past the traditional last-call time. In the same way, Ubercab could charge a membership fee, and then only people who are members can be picked up by Ubercab. (I'm not a lawyer so I don't know if this is actually possible, I'm just trying to rephrase tswicegood's argument.)
  - goatforce5 16y ago
    Yes, in the same way it becomes totally legal to sell cocaine as long as you only sell to members of your private club. (Note: IANAL.)
    - defen 16y ago
      It's almost never legal to possess cocaine in the U.S. - it's a schedule II drug. Alcohol is not a controlled substance. AFAIK, I (as a private citizen - not a business) am allowed to serve alcohol to anyone I choose, as long as they are over 21 years of age.
    - stcredzero 16y ago
      Catching a ride in a car is not a schedule 2 drug, fortunately.
- gravesryan 16y ago
  The regulations read that a livery services ride must be "pre-arranged". We've not seen the hour prior requirement in any law. If it does exist please send it our way, (info@ubercab.com) but we believe that this is opinion not fact.
  - llimllib 16y ago
    I was going off the article, I have no idea. Anyway, I hope it's clear that I wish you the best of luck fighting this nonsense.
  - anigbrowl 16y ago
    I think you should post the C&D order, actually, so as to put the focus on the MTA rather than wasting your time fending off uninformed speculation. It looks to me as if the $5,000/day fine they're speaking of refers to a modification of the Transportation code creating (among other things) a new offense of 'running a dispatch service without a permit,' which was passed by the SFMTA baord just last Tuesday - although it's still questionable whether or not it would apply to your firm. Regardless, it has not yet been made law by the Board of Supervisors, nor is it on their legislative agenda for next week's meeting. From what I can see, it can takes months for something to work its way up the Supervisors' calendar. Of course, a lot depends on what sort of lobbying power the Taxi establishment has at City Hall, but it's fair to assume they have years of experience in working the system. http://www.sfmta.com/cms/cmta/documents/10-19-10calendaritemsredline.pdf http://www.sfmta.com/cms/cmta/documents/10-19-10calendaritem... IANAL, mind; just my personal views. I've developed an unhealthy interest in the (dys)function of my local government.
- sp4rki 16y ago
  It's my understanding that the hour reservation specifics are basically FUD. Since when can you not call a limo service and say "I need a limo for right NOW! Do you have any?", because I'm pretty sure you can and they will send a limo your way if possible.

llimllib 16y ago

> I'm not intimately familiar with the taxi laws, but I bet they don't specify what private organizations can do. Huh? They have to. They don't let private limo organizations pick you up without a 1-hour reservation, for example, as stated in the article. Furthermore, Ubercab already is a private organization. I'm sure I'm missing something, can you explain why it would somehow become legal if it was a members-only organization?

defen 16y ago
I can open a private, members only club which serves alcohol past the traditional last-call time. In the same way, Ubercab could charge a membership fee, and then only people who are members can be picked up by Ubercab. (I'm not a lawyer so I don't know if this is actually possible, I'm just trying to rephrase tswicegood's argument.)
- goatforce5 16y ago
  Yes, in the same way it becomes totally legal to sell cocaine as long as you only sell to members of your private club. (Note: IANAL.)
  - defen 16y ago
    It's almost never legal to possess cocaine in the U.S. - it's a schedule II drug. Alcohol is not a controlled substance. AFAIK, I (as a private citizen - not a business) am allowed to serve alcohol to anyone I choose, as long as they are over 21 years of age.
  - stcredzero 16y ago
    Catching a ride in a car is not a schedule 2 drug, fortunately.
gravesryan 16y ago
The regulations read that a livery services ride must be "pre-arranged". We've not seen the hour prior requirement in any law. If it does exist please send it our way, (info@ubercab.com) but we believe that this is opinion not fact.
- llimllib 16y ago
  I was going off the article, I have no idea. Anyway, I hope it's clear that I wish you the best of luck fighting this nonsense.
- anigbrowl 16y ago
  I think you should post the C&D order, actually, so as to put the focus on the MTA rather than wasting your time fending off uninformed speculation. It looks to me as if the $5,000/day fine they're speaking of refers to a modification of the Transportation code creating (among other things) a new offense of 'running a dispatch service without a permit,' which was passed by the SFMTA baord just last Tuesday - although it's still questionable whether or not it would apply to your firm. Regardless, it has not yet been made law by the Board of Supervisors, nor is it on their legislative agenda for next week's meeting. From what I can see, it can takes months for something to work its way up the Supervisors' calendar. Of course, a lot depends on what sort of lobbying power the Taxi establishment has at City Hall, but it's fair to assume they have years of experience in working the system. http://www.sfmta.com/cms/cmta/documents/10-19-10calendaritemsredline.pdf http://www.sfmta.com/cms/cmta/documents/10-19-10calendaritem... IANAL, mind; just my personal views. I've developed an unhealthy interest in the (dys)function of my local government.
sp4rki 16y ago
It's my understanding that the hour reservation specifics are basically FUD. Since when can you not call a limo service and say "I need a limo for right NOW! Do you have any?", because I'm pretty sure you can and they will send a limo your way if possible.