(DM Photo Illustration)
The Oxford Police Department issued citations to new ride-sharing service Uber over the weekend, saying the vehicles violated the city’s taxi ordinance.
The ordinance regarding vehicles for hire was amended in July.
Police Chief Joey East said the amount of citations for illegal taxis that were given out over the weekend is something that is not common for Oxford.
“As you see we haven’t made a lot of these in the past, but we are trying to kind of step up our awareness,” East said.
East explained that when there is a violation of the ordinance the vehicle is considered an illegal taxi and the driver will be given a citation called a post arrest, similar to a speeding ticket.
“It is an arrestable offense, but the officer will more than likely write them a ticket,” East said. “If they catch that same person doing it again, then more than likely they’ll be arrested the next time.”
East said Oxford has a lot of cab companies that come from outside of the city, especially during game day weekends and this ordinance is a way to help regulate those who are going to be doing business with students and citizens.
East said on top of the outside companies coming in for game day weekends, Oxford is seeing an influx of Uber drivers whose services do not fit in with the ordinance.
“I would say the majority of illegal taxis were Uber,” East said. “There’s a lot of things that they have to come in compliance for them to operate as a taxi.”
When asked about the drivers involved with the citations, Kaitlin Durkosh of Uber Communications, said as a matter of policy Uber takes riders’ and drivers’ privacy seriously and will not disclose their private information.
“I can tell you that Uber vigorously defends the rights of our driver partners, and will cover the costs of unjust citations,” Durkosh said. “Any attempt to limit competition and restrict consumer choice only harms the people of Oxford trying to make a living and move around their city safely.”
East said the department is having officers concentrate on enforcing the taxi ordinance because it is a way to keep individuals safe.
“The biggest thing we want to do is keep students and the citizens safe,” he said. “We are worried that someone could get picked up, thinking they are getting in a vehicle with a licensed taxi company and some crime be committed.”
Alderman Jay Hughes of Ward 1 said the amendments to the original ordinance were voted on due to multiple complaints of taxi services overcharging, having excessive fees on football weekends, robbery, theft and physical assault.
The people who are driving to pick up people who are utilizing the Uber application are providing transportation in exchange for a fee and therefore they are under the vehicle for hire ordinance, according to Hughes.
Hughes said it is necessary for taxi services to register to do business, engage in background checks and provide security cameras and insurance.
“If anyone provides someone else a ride in exchange for something of value or an expectation of a tip then they must meet the vehicle for hire ordinance in Oxford,” Hughes said. “If they do not do that we will enforce them.”
Hughes said the amendments are going to be a very positive change for the public and for the taxi services themselves.
“The ordinance is there to protect the passengers, the students and the residents here just as much as the drivers,” Hughes said.
