Court case questions Uber’s future

• 5 October 2015
• From the section London

The future of app-based taxi service Uber in London is being called into question in a High Court case.

Transport for London (TfL) and Uber are seeking guidance on whether the taxi company’s smartphones are considered meters, which are outlawed for private hire vehicles.

The phones use GPS and external servers to calculate the cost of a journey.

Uber has warned the plans will spell the end to the service its users “know and love”.

London Mayor Boris Johnson said it would be “nuts” to ban the technology behind the app and called for black cabs and private hire companies to work together and “find a balance” for the benefit of the capital.

The company’s drivers could be convicted and fined if the phones are seen as meters and Uber has asked its users to sign a petition about the possible reclassification.

Two day hearing

TfL’s barrister Martin Chamberlain said the point of law Mr Justice Ouseley at the High Court must decide was “narrow but difficult”.

He said the organisation had not considered the smartphone app unlawful from the outset, but that TfL needed clarification from the court as the point was “arguable”.

Mr Chamberlain added: “TfL has formed a view. If the court takes a different view TfL intends to ensure the law as declared by this court is properly enforced.”

Uber London Ltd, the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA) and Licensed Private Hire Car Association (LPHCA) will give their responses in the two day hearing.

The LTDA is asking the judge to rule that using a smartphone is unlawful as it said along with apps they operate as taximeters and it is not necessary for them to be “physically” attached to a vehicle to break the law.

LPHCA supports the LTDA’s position, saying the app “is an attempt to circumvent the statutory prohibition on the use of a taximeter”.