UBER and Taxify were compared to drugs, or the use of drugs instead of drug consumption, by the vice-mayor of Bucharest, Aurelian Badulescu, in a meeting of the General Council today. "You can use any service you want, the question is whether or not I can continue using drugs, it's your choice" this is what the vice mayor of the capital said after a meeting in which a new regulation for taxis in Bucharest was adopted.
In a hastily convened and hastily held meeting, the Bucharest City Hall adopted today a new regulation that should put an end to UBER and Taxify in Romania. We are talking about new rules that prohibit the mediation of transport in Bucharest by persons not authorized to do taximetry, this act being sanctioned with a fine between 4500 LEI and 5000 LEI, more than what UBER or Taxify drivers do in a world.
More than that, those from the General City Hall of Bucharest want any kind of taxi service to be provided only on the basis of a dispatcher authorized for this, whether by phone or through an application. Those from UBER said that at first glance the new rules do not apply to them, while Taxify are a bit upset, a sign that the reality is different, and both companies should stop their activity in Bucharest.
"Dispatch services are mandatory for all taxis of authorized carriers, which carry out their transport activity as a taxi in the territory of Bucharest and can only be performed by taxi dispatchers authorized by the authorization authority of Bucharest City Hall, under the conditions that it is ensured that the client can use these services by telephone orders or any other means (computer applications, online orders on the website of the taxi dispatcher) and to transmit them to the taxi driver via the broadcast-reception radio station"
UBER and Taxify are like Drugs, Bucharest City Hall Approves new Taximetry Rules
Practically, these new rules should stop UBER and Taxify in Bucharest, but only if the drivers are caught transporting people and fined, because otherwise enforcement is impossible. The representatives of the taxi companies have announced a "hunt" of UBER and Taxify drivers to protect their "land", so we can also expect beatings and just about anything that the minds of those who in the past threw eggs and flour into the cars of UBER drivers can expect.
"Non-compliance with the obligations, as established in art. 21 para. (3) , applicable to all similar activities regardless of the way and medium through which they are carried out and result in the mediation between an unauthorized driver or an authorized taxi carrier, of the transportation of a person or group of persons on the territory of the Municipality of Bucharest, is sanctioned with a fine from 4.500 to 5.000 lei."
The funniest part come now, for Gabriela Firea, the general mayor of Bucharest, wants civilized taxi drivers, so he forbids the following: "Refusal of a race is totally prohibited, requests for bonuses will be prohibited under drastic sanctions. Drivers are obliged to have a decent outfit, appropriate behavior and language, not to play loud music, not to talk on the phone, not to send sms, not to discuss with the client and sensitive topics about politics, religion and sexuality, which could go against the client's beliefs."
Practically, everything that was supposed to be common sense is mandatory imposed by a decision of the Bucharest city hall, and this is because in Romania only the "whip" works, unfortunately. The worst part is that all these behaviors must be reported, because the vast majority of taxi drivers behave meanly with customers, not to mention the behavior in traffic, and the dispatchers cover them without discrimination.
Instead of finding ways to bring UBER and Taxify into a legal basis that would allow the services to function, the authorities in Romania chose the path that everyone hates and because of which many leave the country. Unfortunately, Romania was and will remain deeply anchored in a system in which the citizen only has to gain if he makes the wise decision to leave for a developed society.
