Uber Driver Charged With Raping Teen Picked Up In Hamptons: Cops

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — An Uber driver was charged with raping an underage girl after picking her up in Southampton, police said.

According to Southampton Town Police, Steven Palmer, 33, was arrested on Feb. 4 at 4:30 p.m. on Winged Foot Drive in Medford. Palmer was charged with third degree statutory rape, police said.

Police said a 16-year called Uber; she was a passenger in his car who was "upset" and Palmer reportedly pulled over to "console" her; the two engaged in sex, and met again over a period of days, police said.

An Uber spokesperson responded when asked about the incident: "What’s been described has no place on the Uber app. Upon learning of this, we immediately removed the driver's access to the app.”

The case highlights the need for parents to ensure their children's safety, said Laura Ahearn, executive director of Parents of Megan's Law.

"It's a reminder to parents that they should ensure their children and teenagers are not in transport vehicles alone. Parents should not be allowing children or teenagers to be in an Uber or taxicab without a buddy. It's one of our basic rules for safety."

In addition, she said, the case spotlights another issue Ahearn said needs to be addressed in Suffolk County, in that Transportation Network Companies and Suffolk County need to collaborate so that all taxis, limousines and ride sharing services are under the jurisdiction of the Suffolk County Taxi & Limousine Commission. "That's not happening right now," she said, adding that such oversight would ensure uniform background checks for drivers, to see if they are listed on sex offender registries or have been convicted of violent crimes.

And, Ahearn said, "There are predators out there," that may not have a criminal background yet, but who might behave in a way that would give off warning signals — as in the case of a former taxi driver who "trolled" high school girls outside their school, giving rides, until he was ultimately convicted of sex crime, Ahearn said.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Southampton Town Police at 631-702-2230.