Illegal ride-sharing service UberX outsmarts transport inspectors, disrupting undercover stings
7.30 By David Lewis - exclusive
Updated 15 Jan 2015, 12:04am
Uber user holds mobile phone
PHOTO: Uber has been blocking transport inspectors' phones (Tim Leslie)
MAP: QLD
Emails obtained by the 7.30 program reveal illegal ride-sharing application UberX is undermining transport inspectors by blocking their mobile phones from accessing the service.
UberX drivers use private vehicles as unlicensed taxis to collect passengers who have requested a car using Uber's smart phone application.
It is effectively banned in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia, and drivers caught accepting passengers risk fines of up to $1,700.
The fines are usually issued on the spot during undercover investigations in which transport inspectors download the Uber app using government-issued mobile phones, and book a ride.
However, emails obtained under Queensland's Right To Information laws show Uber is tracking those mobile phones and suspending all corresponding Uber accounts.
"Due to blocking by Uber, only two covert rides were undertaken [today]," said Nick Marsden from the Department of Transport and Main Roads in an email to colleagues last August.
"Time was spent purchasing new credit cards, activating gmail accounts, and setting up two more phones.
"These phones are the last ones, [we] will be ordering additional units."
When a transport inspector contacted Uber to ask why their account had been suspended, a customer service representative cited suspicious activity.
"I can see that our system has picked up unu |
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