Free Talk Live

Uber, SideCar and Lyft Fined, Uber Also Sued by Taxi Drivers

It hasn’t been a good week for San Francisco taxi and ride-share apps.

On November 9, two taxi drivers filed what they hope will be certified as a class action lawsuit against Uber stemming from its months-old taxi service in the city.

Yesterday afternoon, Uber, SideCar and Lyft were fined $20,000 each by the California Public Utilities Commission for operating what the state considers unlicensed charter car businesses.

Men in Iraq steal some wood, so the US army crushes his car. The owner was a taxi driver. Old video, but relevant.

It’s Illegal to Resell iTunes Songs Online, Court Rules

Digital music cannot be sold secondhand over the Internet, even if the seller deletes the original file, a federal judge ruled last week.

It's a bastion of bar culture: "Ladies' Night," staged to attract female customers by cutting their drink prices and cover charges.

It's also illegal gender discrimination, according to the Minnesota Department of Human Rights.

The department charged this week that by having ladies' nights, five Twin Cities establishments denied men the right to "full and equal enjoyment" of their businesses.

Not to be outdone by their Missouri comrades, the Democrats in Minnesota have introduced their own gun confiscation bill, HF 241 (Minnesota was actually first I believe). This bill would basically outlaw anything other than a revolver, bolt action rifle, or musket with its all inclusive list of what constitutes an "assault weapon". Is the Federal government watching this closely to see how it pans out? Click on the link to the official MN bill in the article and read what is going to be banned.

A ride sharing service called SideCar that is very popular in San Francisco and Seattle is under attack by the Austin City Council for being an unregulated taxi service. The City wants to conduct Sting operations to bust, fine, and impound the vehicle of volunteers who give rides to people on a donation basis only. This would be conducted during South by Southwest when the company plans to launch in Austin. The service is offered through a smartphone app and no cash is exchanged.

Couchsurfing in NY could become illegal. "This week, New York state senators vote on a bill that would make it illegal for any homeowner or renter to sublet for less than a month. The new law would be a blanket ban on short-term rentals no matter how ethical the renter is."

"California's law making it illegal to impersonate people online just went into effect.

Now this hobby will get you dinged for up to $1,000 and/or a year in jail."

Could something like this happen to Bitcoin? FTA: "In a criminal case sure to make programmers nervous, a software maker who licenses a program used by online casinos and bookmakers overseas is being charged with promoting gambling in New York because authorities say his software was used by others for illegal betting in that state. New York authorities say that about $2.3 million that Robert Stuart and his company, Extension Software, received in cash and money orders for licensing his software constitutes direct proceeds of illegal, U.S.-based bookmaking operations."