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Fines against Uber services – Rems-Murr district responds to taxi protests
The Rems-Murr district is located in the immediate vicinity of the Baden-Württemberg state capital Stuttgart and is therefore particularly in the focus of Uber & Co. After intensive protests by the taxi industry over the past weeks, the competent authority imposed 368 fines against ride-sharing companies for violating legal regulations. In some cases, the fines reach up to 10,000 euros.
Violations of the Duty to Return
Uber services are particularly criticized for disregarding the duty to return. While taxi drivers are only allowed to wait for customers in their operating area, rental cars are required to return to their headquarters after a ride. In practice, however, the taxi companies accuse many drivers of disregarding this and instead positioning themselves in busy locations, especially in Stuttgart.
"They then wait in areas with high foot traffic or block the spaces reserved for us, such as at Stuttgart station," says Iordanis Georgiadis, chairman of the Stuttgart Taxi Association.
In the Rems-Murr district, 13 companies are known to work with Uber. They operate a total of 41 vehicles, particularly concentrated in Fellbach and Waiblingen – near the city border to Stuttgart, where demand for ride services is high. Seven of these companies have now been fined. The penalties start at 500 euros and increase to up to five-digit amounts for repeated violations.
Authority Increases Pressure
The district office emphasizes that it has consistently pursued complaints from the taxi industry.
“Fair competition is important to us. That’s why we have consciously and consistently followed up on the complaints submitted to us,” says District Administrator Richard Sigel.
The authority continues its measures, even though monitoring compliance with regulations in practice presents challenges.
“As an authority, how am I supposed to check if someone is just taking a short break to use the restroom, grab a Leberkäse sandwich, or perhaps waiting for the next passenger?” Sigel points out.
Since Uber's launch in the Stuttgart region in November 2019, violations of the return obligation had rarely been sanctioned. Until the beginning of this year, the district office imposed only four fines of 100 euros each. This has changed after the recent protests. Fines amounting to over 33,000 euros have now been issued.
Taxi industry demands stricter controls
The taxi companies pointed out the lax enforcement of the regulations with a demonstration in Waiblingen in early February. About 300 vehicles drove to the district office with hazard lights and protest signs, accompanied by loud protest. "Uber could not offer any rides if the regulations weren't being violated," it was said at the rally.
The authorities subsequently cracked down harder - also due to evidence collected by taxi drivers. Georgiadis handed over documentation to District Administrator Sigel during the protest containing screenshots and photos intended to prove violations.
Since there is no city with more than 100,000 inhabitants in the Rems-Murr district, rental car licenses cannot be capped. There is also no registration requirement for Uber partnerships. Nevertheless, the district office announces that further controls will be carried out.
Content automatically translated."We will consistently stay on the ball," said Sigel.
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