PARIS — Uber Technologies Inc. is bringing its fight against European Union taxi regulations before the bloc’s highest court, setting up a potential decision on whether national transportation laws across the region can apply to online services such as Uber.

San Francisco-based Uber said Monday that a judge in Barcelona has granted the company’s request to refer a case brought by a local taxi association to the European Court of Justice. The referral asks the Luxembourg-based court to determine whether Spanish taxi rules and court decisions violate EU treaties and laws.

At issue before the European Court of Justice is whether Uber, which runs a popular smartphone app that allows people to hail cars for trips across town, is a transportation company or if it is an “information society service.” Uber argues it is the latter, which would give it sounder legal footing under EU directives to avoid certain elements of national taxi laws. The Spanish judge has asked Luxembourg for guidance, according to a copy of the ruling made available by Uber.


Under current EU law, transportation regulations are exempt from the EU-wide services directive, giving countries more of a free rein to regulate them. But online services are granted freedom from some kinds of regulatory interference.

It isn’t clear how long it would take for Uber’s case to be heard, but Mr. MacGann said he expects a decision in the fall of 2016. Nevertheless, he said he is confident Uber will prevail because EU court decisions “rarely if ever have the effect of closing markets and restricting competition.”

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/europes-top-court-to-decide-if-uber-is-tech-firm-or-taxi-company-2015-07-20
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 MORECAMBE

 A taxi driver who touched a young woman on the forehead and told her he had twice been accused of rape has lost an appeal against having his licence revoked.

Robert Allman, 59, of Westgate Caravan Park in Morecambe, claimed he’d touched the woman on the forehead by accident but admitted talking about the rape accusations during a taxi journey.

The passenger made a complaint against Allman for inappropriate behaviour after the incidents during a pre-booked taxi ride on February 16.

The woman said he touched her forehead for five seconds and told her he had twice been accused of rape; once in the UK and the other on the Greek island of Zante.

Allman then had his license revoked in March. He appealed and appeared at Lancaster Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

Magistrates, however, rejected his appeal and ordered him to pay £100 towards the council’s costs.

Councillor Margaret Pattison, chairman of the licensing regulatory committee, said: “A licence issued by the council to a taxi driver is in effect the council’s seal of approval that the holder is a fit and proper person to drive members of the public.

“Members of the public can be assured that the city council will do everything we can to maintain public safety and confidence in licensed drivers.”

http://www.lancasterguardian.co.uk/news/local/morecambe-taxi-driver-who-talked-about-rape-accusations-loses-appeal-1-7370287
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LIVERPOOL

 Toxteth cabbie denies attempting to drive into couple and five-year-old girl
Jonathan Humphries

A Toxteth cabbie has denied attempting to deliberately drive his taxi into a couple and a five-year-old girl.

Peter Paul Rogers, 30, pleaded not guilty to one charge of dangerous driving and one of making threats to kill at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court today.

Rogers, of Trefoil Close, is alleged to have committed the offences while driving his Ford Mondeo taxi on Lodge Lane, Granby, on June 3.

The alleged victims, an adult man, his partner and the child, were not injured during the incident.

An unrelated charge of possession of cannabis, also denied by Rogers, was dropped.

Neil Audley, prosecuting, said the charges were too serious to be dealt with in Magistrates’ Court.

District Judge Ian Lomax passed the case to Liverpool Crown Court where a preliminary hearing will take place on August 3.

Rogers was remanded in custody.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/toxteth-cabbie-denies-attempting-drive-9694783