AUSTIN, Texas — A former driver for a ride-hailing company Lyft faces several criminal charges after police say he sped off twice with a passenger in his vehicle against their will. Records show 45-year-old Daniel Kifle was booked into the Travis County Jail on Tuesday, charged with kidnapping, aggravated kidnapping and attempted sexual assault. Austin police say the driver picked up passengers from bars on two occasions who apparently believed he was their Lyft driver. Then when the front-seat passenger got out to help their passed-out friend exit the back seat, police say the man drove away with the unconscious passenger still in the car. Police say one of the passed-out passengers awakened and found the driver trying to force his hands down her pants. Ride-hailing company Lyft reported the rides did not happen on the company's platform and said Kifle has been "permanently deactivated." According to arrest affidavits obtained by the Austin American Statesman, the women thought … [Read more...] about Charges: Man posing as ride-hailing driver kidnapped women in Austin
Ride hailing
Taxi Study Suggests Setting Minimum Wage for Drivers of Ride-Hailing Apps
A study commissioned by New York City’s Taxi and Limousine Commission recommends setting a minimum wage for for-hire drivers working for ride-hailing app-based companies like Uber in an effort to address complaints of low pay in the industry. Under the proposal, the city would establish a minimum wage of $17.22 an hour for the 80,000 drivers working for companies like Uber and Lyft. Establishing... … [Read more...] about Taxi Study Suggests Setting Minimum Wage for Drivers of Ride-Hailing Apps
NYC considers a minimum wage for Uber, ride-hail drivers
New York City's taxi regulatory body is considering setting a wage floor for ride-hail drivers on platforms like Uber, Lyft, Juno and Via, equivalent to the city's minimum wage. If it succeeds, it would be the first such attempt in the country. The vast majority of drivers on these apps net less than $15 an hour, according to a report commissioned by the Taxi and Limousine Commission that was released Monday. About 40 percent earn so little they qualify for Medicaid, and 1 in 5 qualify for food stamps, the report found. That's worrisome considering the large number of people who drive for a ride-hail app. "App-based drivers work more hours annually than all the workers in New York City's major industries, including banking, publishing and hotels. Uber is the largest employer in New York City, larger than JP Morgan Chase," said James Parrott, a co-author of the report and Fiscal Policy Director of the Center for New York City Affairs at The New School. Uber, which is valued at $62 … [Read more...] about NYC considers a minimum wage for Uber, ride-hail drivers
Egypt’s president approves law for ride-hailing apps
CAIRO -- Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi has approved a law governing popular ride-hailing apps Uber and Careem after the companies appealed a court ruling that revoked their licenses. El-Sisi's approval was reported in the country's official gazette on Sunday. The law establishes the basis for operating licenses and fees, and requires licensed companies to store user data for 180 days and make it available to Egyptian security authorities upon request. Uber and Careem welcomed the draft law when the parliament approved it in May.Both companies provide smartphone apps that connect passengers with drivers who work as independent contractors. An administrative court in Cairo had ruled in March that it is illegal to use private vehicles as taxis. … [Read more...] about Egypt’s president approves law for ride-hailing apps
New Honolulu bills aimed at taxi, ride-hailing companies
Updated 1:35 pm, Saturday, June 23, 2018 HONOLULU (AP) — Honolulu city officials are introducing two bills that would make regulations on traditional taxicab companies more in line with regulations on ride-hailing companies. Taxi companies such as Charley's, The Cab and EcoCab have voiced disappointment over upstart transportation companies not following the same rules that taxicabs have abided by for decades. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports Mayor Kirk Caldwell said he submitted a bill to the Honolulu City Council Thursday that would allow cabbies to charge a fixed, upfront cost like Uber and Lyft drivers, or stick to the traditional method of using taxi meters that calculate fares based on mileage and time that's set by the city Customer Services director. MySA News Videos Now Playing: Now Playing Mission vandals caught on surveillance camera San Antonio Express-News Man arrested hours after ATM heist San Antonio Express-News Stolen … [Read more...] about New Honolulu bills aimed at taxi, ride-hailing companies