Is it illegal to encourage others to violate the law, especially if you profit when they do?

[FrodosPet]

Uber actively suborns violations of existing livery law and airport regulations.

They are encouraging pickups at airports where drivers are getting towed and slapped with hundreds, even thousands of dollars worth of fines.
[hr]
DTW police threatening to give 500$ tickets

http://uberpeople.net/threads/dtw-police-threatening-to-give-500-tickets.52589/

On Saturday January 2 2016, I was asked by the detroit metro airport police if the passengers were related to me when picking up from the airport. When I said I was an Uber driver, they said if they ever catch me again they will give me 1000$ worth of tickets. I went to the Uber support center in Allen Park and they said that it is perfectly legal for uber x/xl drivers to pick up from the airport.

I went back to the airport and asked one of the cops what should I do to pick up customers legally, they said that I have to go through the commercial vehicles lane.

I called the airport authority and they said that for me to through the commercial vehicles lane, I need to buy cupons (sic) that are 10$ worth for each pick up i make.

I am confused as I cannot get a straight answer from anybody. I like the airport rides because you always get a ping and I always average a minimum of 15$ per hour after gas and tax.

~ snip ~

[treestar]

1. Find a lawyer to look up what the law is

Each person cited is not a lawyer and is conveying their impression of what the law is. It's very unclear what the law actually is from that.

[FrodosPet]

3. As a cabbie in metro Detroit, I can tell you for certain

If you are caught doing commercial pickups at Detroit Metro Airport, they CAN, and WILL write you up and tow your car.

It has happened to our drivers who have taken flags or picked up curbside. $500 to get the car back from impound. The company kicks it out, and then bills the driver because they signed more than one paper saying "Don't do it, you are responsible for the fines and impound fees if you do".
[hr]
http://www.metroairport.com/Portals/0/PDF/WCAA_Airport_Ordinance_Mar2013.pdf

WAYNE COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
AIRPORT ORDINANCE

~ snip ~

2.38 Ground Transportation Operator means any Person engaged in the commercial transportation by motor vehicle of Persons for hire from the Airport, other than a Limousine, Luxury Sedan or a Taxicab Operator, either directly or through any device or arrangement, whether or not such Person holds himself out to the public as a Ground Transportation Operator or whether or not such Person is considered a contract carrier or common carrier of passengers in accordance with other applicable law.

~ snip ~

6.22 In consideration of the right of access to the Airport to use facilities of the Airport to pick up or convey customers of Off-Airport Commercial Enterprises, the owners of such Off-Airport Commercial Enterprises shall pay to the Authority such fees as the CEO shall determine. Such fees may be imposed on the gross receipts or gross revenues derived from or on behalf of customers picked up at or conveyed to the Airport or based on periodic Permit fees and shall be similar for similar business activities.

~ snip ~

c. Each Off-Airport Commercial Enterprise required to pay a Permit fee shall be
required to obtain a Permit for such activity and pay the required fee at the time
the Permit is issued.

d. All Off-Airport Commercial Enterprises shall be required to obtain a Permit to
conduct activities at the Airport. Use of the Airport by an Off-Airport Commercial
Enterprise without a Permit shall violate this Airport Ordinance each time a
vehicle of such Off-Airport Commercial Enterprise stops at the Airport to load or
unload a person, baggage or cargo. A vehicle which incurs more than one (1)
violation shall be subject to being towed to an impound area until the disposition
of the ticket issued for said violation is determined by a Court of competent
jurisdiction.

~ snip ~

[treestar]

8. An Uber driver probably needs a permit under that scheme

so it's weird Uber tells its drivers they don't.

[FrodosPet]

10. It is not weird for them... it is SOP

Travis Kalanick seems to be a libertarian megalomaniac who believes commercial laws should not apply to him.

[L. Coyote]

5. Also, find the laws and read them yourself first.

[FrodosPet]

6. Exactly! Why pay a lawyer, when the ordinances and procedures are online and relatively readable

http://www.metroairport.com/Portals/0/PDF/WCAA_Airport_Ordinance_Mar2013.pdf

http://metroairport.com/Portals/0/Landside%20SOP.pdf

[treestar]

7. Either way

instead of relying on the second hand opinions of various people on the street.

[Travis_0004]

2. At least where I live, it is legal to pickup and drop off an the airport

I know there were some issues at first, but the airport came to an agreement, so it is now easy for everybody.

[FrodosPet]

4. The point is, in Detroit, Newark NJ, and other places it is not

And meanwhile Uber is telling drivers that it is.

That seems illegal.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

12. In Detroit, there's no problem picking someone up ...

... if it's non-commercial.

I don't know how anyone (eg a Sheriff's deputy) can tell a "normal, personal, family" pick-up from a Uber pick-up, unless Uber cars are marked somehow when they're "on duty".

The problem in Detroit is there's no convenient (and free) parking lot nearby to wait while the arriving party deplanes and retrieves baggage. I just park in a hotel lot just outside the airport, and wait for a call.

[NobodyHere]

9. Why is it illegal to pick people up at the airport?

[FrodosPet]

11. To stop unaccountable unlicensed taxis

And despite calling themselves a technology company, Uber is obviously an unaccountable unlicensed taxi service.