Uber racks up fines of over NT$23 million in Taiwan

Want China Times, CNA 2015-01-30

An illustration of Uber's trade logo on a smartphone held up to a

taxi lamp. (Illustrationo/CFP)

The ridesharing service company Uber and its participating drivers have been fined a total of NT$23.2 million (US$730,000) so far for violating Taiwan's laws, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said Thursday.

As of Jan. 27, the Directorate General of Highways (DGH) had imposed 133 fines on Uber, totaling NT$16.6 million (US$527,000), for violation of the Highways Act, the ministry said.

The DGH has also issued 132 tickets, totaling NT$6.6 million (US$210,000), to drivers transporting passengers with the service, the ministry said.

Uber, however, has paid only NT$500,000 (US$15,900) worth of fines, while its drivers have paid 13 tickets valued at NT$650,000 (US$20,600), the ministry said.

DGH official Lin Fu-shan said the agency will continue to impose fines on the company over the Lunar New Year holiday in an effort to halt the illegal taxi service.

"The priority is to cut its supply chain," Lin said.

He called on local drivers who do not have the required commercial driver's licenses to stop working for the company.

The ministry said it is trying to revoke Uber's company registration because it registered as an information service but is operating a transportation business.

San Francisco-based Uber, which entered the Taiwan market in mid-2013, has been unyielding in the controversy despite the penalties. As in many other countries where it operates, it has faced obstacles in Taiwan due to domestic regulations and concerns about its effects on the livelihood of local taxi drivers.

The transportation ministry said it has asked Uber several times to abide by the law and apply for a transportation business license, but the company has ignored the requests.

Uber is operating illegally and has not made any effort to comply with the law, the ministry said, adding that this not only leaves passengers unprotected but is also unfair to legitimate transportation operators.