Close X
Saturday, November 30, 2024
ADVT 
International

Pennsylvania Fines Uber $11Million For Operating Without Approval

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 21 Apr, 2016 11:44 AM
    HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania regulators fined Uber $11.4 million on Thursday — a record for the utility commission — for operating for six months in 2014 without the required approval. The company said it would appeal.
     
    The Public Utility Commission, which also regulates buses and taxis, voted 3-2 for a penalty that was considerably lower than the $50 million fine recommended by a pair of administrative law judges in November.
     
    Commissioners who voted for it justified the lower amount because they said the ride-hailing company has modified its practices to comply with state rules and has not generated many consumer complaints while operating under emergency and experimental authority.
     
    San Francisco-based Uber Technologies, Inc. drew criticism from the judges last year for continuing to operate a month after being issued a cease-and-desist order and for what were described as obstructive actions during the investigation. Commissioners John Coleman and Gladys Brown said the company's actions warranted punishment.
     
    "It must be recognized that Uber has deliberately engaged in the most unprecedented series of wilful violations of commission orders and regulations in the history of this agency," they said in proposing the smaller fine. "A record number of proven violations should be expected to result in a record setting fine."
     
     
    The two commissioners who voted no said the fine was excessive compared to the commission's past actions. Its previous record fine was $1.8 million over an electric generation supplier's handling of a guaranteed savings plan for customers.
     
    Uber spokesman Jason Post said the company was "shocked" by the fine amount, adding Uber's actions did not harm anyone and the commission "subsequently approved the same operations."
     
    Other cases with large fines, said commissioner Pamela Witmer, "involved incidents of serious bodily injury, fatalities, significant property damage and/or patterns of unsafe business practices that jeopardized public safety." She called for "a more measured and reasonable outcome."
     
    Commissioner Robert Powelson, the other no vote, said he would have preferred a $2.5 million fine.
     
    "When Uber launched its operations in Pennsylvania, they were operating in a legally grey area," Powelson said. "The commission should take this into account."
     
    The two judges wrote in November that Uber had argued it was providing needed alternatives, it used a broker license held by a subsidiary and there was no proof that harm occurred.
     
     
    Uber was fined more than $7 million in January for failing to provide sufficient information to California regulators.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Indian Doctors Successfully Perform 16 Open-heart Surgeries In Fiji

    Indian Doctors Successfully Perform 16 Open-heart Surgeries In Fiji
    A team of doctors from India has successfully performed 16 open-heart surgeries at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Fiji's capital city of Suva, a media report said.

    Indian Doctors Successfully Perform 16 Open-heart Surgeries In Fiji

    Stop Using Term 'Asian' To Describe Sex Crimes Of 'Pakistani Muslims' In UK: Sikh Organisation

    Stop Using Term 'Asian' To Describe Sex Crimes Of 'Pakistani Muslims' In UK: Sikh Organisation
    At least 1,400 girls had been sexually exploited in Rotherham over a 16-year period.  The abuse were Pakistani Muslims, this is how they should be described and not called Asian

    Stop Using Term 'Asian' To Describe Sex Crimes Of 'Pakistani Muslims' In UK: Sikh Organisation

    Weekend Renters Find Corpse In Paris Garden Of Airbnb Rental

    Weekend Renters Find Corpse In Paris Garden Of Airbnb Rental
    French authorities are investigating the death of a woman whose decomposing body was found in the garden of an Airbnb rental in suburban Paris.

    Weekend Renters Find Corpse In Paris Garden Of Airbnb Rental

    Bernie Sanders Keeps His Judaism In The Background, Irking US Jews

    As Bernie Sanders headed toward victory in New Hampshire, pundits noted the barrier he was about to break: Sanders would become the first Jewish candidate to win a major party presidential primary.

    Bernie Sanders Keeps His Judaism In The Background, Irking US Jews

    Can Romas Be Part Of Indian Diaspora?

    Can Romas Be Part Of Indian Diaspora?
    A strong 20-million Roma population is spread over 30 countries encompassing West Asia, Europe, America and Australia

    Can Romas Be Part Of Indian Diaspora?

    Mark Zuckerberg In Germany: No Place For Hate Speech On Facebook

    Mark Zuckerberg conceded Friday that Facebook didn't do enough until recently to police hate speech on the social media site in Germany, but said that it has made progress and has heard the message "loud and clear."

    Mark Zuckerberg In Germany: No Place For Hate Speech On Facebook