Dutch prosecutors last week announced a criminal investigation of Uber, ushering in the next wave of legal confrontation between European governments and the taxi app, AFP reported.
The probe follows the conviction in a Dutch court of three drivers registered with Uber’s low-cost service UberPOP. The drivers were found guilty of driving passengers without a permit. They were each fined $1, 600.
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The Public Prosecutor’s office declared war on Uber with the announcement: “Uber is now a suspect in light of the judge’s verdict.”
The prosecutor’s statement continued: “This means launching a preliminary investigation to gather detail to determine whether Uber is guilty of commercial organization of illegal passenger transport.”
Last December, a Dutch court forbade UberPOP from booking rides through its app, threatening Uber with a $108, 000 fine if they did.
But Uber said it was going to appeal, and continued to use UberPOP.
So far, the Dutch government has fined Uber just under $60, 000.
According to AFP, Uber is facing a hailstorm of legal suit, initiated with the support of taxi owners and drivers, who are furious that Uber drivers and their cars are not being regulated like everybody else in the business.
Earlier this month, Uber sued France, Germany and Spain at the European Union, in response to those governments’ repeated attempts to keep its cabbies from earning an honest euro.
Uber argued these national governments have breached EU laws on competition.
