Berlin Government Admits to Protecting Taxis from Uber Competition

Berlin Government Press Release

Here is the release using Google Translate:

Prohibition for the protection of the passenger

13:08:14, press release
, the State Department of Civil and Regulatory Affairs Berlin (LABO) the Uber BV has delivered a prohibition order and ordered the immediate enforcement of this Order. This excess may not use smartphone app or similar deals more or convey through this app offers violate the Passenger Transport Act now.

At the same time for each violation, a penalty payment in the amount of 25,000 Euros was threatened. Is the penalty recovered, then the Administrative Court may also order replacement obsessive against those responsible. Protecting the passenger has priority. The LABO as the competent supervisory and licensing authority can not tolerate that this goes in the context of requiring approval of passenger transport in the care of non-approved drivers in unlicensed vehicles and is subject to a disclaimer of insurance in case of damage. Moreover, available also serves to protect the driver, since the motor vehicle liability insurance does not cover the risk of passenger transport. The basic idea of the protection of the taxi trade also apply. Continued pursuit of the passenger without permission is also an offense, which is punishable by a fine of up to 20,000 euros. The injunction is not yet final. Uber may appeal against the order and apply against the immediate enforcement of judicial Eilrechtsschutz.