Newark Uber Rideshare Wars Begin: Driver Allegedly Fined $2,500

Newark, NJ - The Newark Uber wars may have begun.

A local Uber driver is claiming that authorities recently issued him a $2,500 ticket for picking up a fare at Newark Liberty International Airport without a municipal permit, just a few weeks after city officials warned that they would begin ticketing Uber and Lyft drivers for operating without permits… then temporarily rescinded their decision.

The driver told News 12 New Jersey that his car was almost towed during the incident.

“I do regular pickups right in front of the police,” Michael Vadon told News 12. “They knew what I was doing then and never paid any attention to me the night before."

The alleged citation may be one of the opening salvos to a conflict that has been brewing between Uber drivers and city officials, who have pledged to crack down on drivers working without a municipal permit at Newark Airport and Newark Penn Station.

Ride-share services operating in the city have reduced business for traditional taxis by as much as 80 percent in Newark, according to unions and other organizations representing drivers, NJ.com reported.

• See related article: Newark Uber Crackdown Delayed, Port Authority Won't Ticket Uber Drivers

The building battle began in February, when Newark’s Chief Prosecutor Evans Anyanwu sent a letter to Uber’s general counsel in San Francisco alleging that their drivers are in violation of city code.

“I have instructed our police department effective Feb. 22 to immediately tow Uber drivers operating in and around Newark Airport and Newark Penn Station,” Anyanwu wrote.

Anyanwu’s warning was temporarily rescinded a few days later, but appears to be back in effect.

Newark city officials told News 12 New Jersey that 341 ride-share cars have received tickets or summonses since January.

At least 12 have been towed, News 12 reported.

Other local public safety agencies have been reluctant to follow Newark’s lead.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced that they will not be taking action against Uber drivers:

“We have received numerous inquiries over the past few days about the policy of this agency with regard to utilization of ridesharing firms such as Uber and Lyft at Newark Liberty International Airport. The Port Authority Police Department will not take steps to prevent access to such services by passengers or others on the premises owned or leased by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.”

Agency spokespeople continued:

“The Port Authority has a responsibility to provide safe and convenient services for travelers. It also recognizes that it must partner with local municipalities which host its facilities and will resolve any differences which may exist in a reasonable and fair manner.”

Uber stated that it would not advise drivers, who are independent contractors, to avoid Newark Airport or Penn Station.

“We’ll continue to stand by our driver-partners by fully compensating those subject to unjust fines or citations as a result of the city’s actions,” Uber spokesman Craig Ewer told NorthJersey.com.

Uber said it has about 15,000 independent contractor drivers in New Jersey, The Washington Times reported.

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