Uber says no guns in cars, period

[onehandle]

Source: Engadget

Drivers and passengers can no longer carry guns on Uber rides, even if they have a legal permit. Uber previously allowed partners to drive with guns, as long as they "abide(d) by local, state, and federal laws." The transportation company told the New Republic that "we have adopted a no-firearms policy to ensure that both drivers and riders feel safe and comfortable on the platform." It added that it made the changes on June 10th, well before the deadly Charleston attacks, and only after "reviewing recent feedback from both riders and driver-partners."

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Uber's main rival, Lyft, has what it calls a "strict" no weapons policy in place. Though laws in many US states allow citizens to carry guns in public, private businesses have the right to ban them from their premises or vehicles. As the WSJ pointed out, however, Uber is on murky legal ground there since it doesn't employ the drivers directly or own the cars. Further muddying the waters, California recently ruled that Uber drivers are, in fact, employees.

Read more: http://www.engadget.com/2015/06/20/uber-firearm-policy-update

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Hints of the tipping point are surfacing.

[MADem]

1. I can't imagine how a driver might enforce this.

If a passenger is standing by the road with a machine gun, well, sure...but if someone has a gun in pocket or purse? How is the driver to know?

It's a good statement, but it's unenforceable.

[Gormy Cuss]

3. Doesn't matter. This policy helps indemnify Uber should a gun incident occur

whether driver or passenger is involved. Uber can fire the driver for violating the policy --well, not *fire* exactly since Uber contends their drivers are independent contractors. Dunno what they'd do if a passenger violates it.

[MADem]

6. Hmmm. So it's really more about ass-covering, at the end of the day.

At least until there's some device that can identify if someone has a gun before they get too close!

[Fuddnik]

10. How would they know?

They have never met or spoken in person to any of their drivers. Every thing they do is via e-mail or website.

They've never inspected a car or a driver.

[Gormy Cuss]

15. Police reports

when something goes bad and that's the only time Uber actually gives a crap. Witness how quickly Uber divorces itself from drivers who run over pedestrians or rape customers.

[bluestateguy]

2. That is their private business decision

I expect that free market conservatives will support their right to make that choice. If they don't like it, they can find a gun-friendly taxi service, or start their own.

[Duckhunter935]

4. Their right a a businesss

Sounds even more and more like their drivers are indeed employees though

[Fuddnik]

11. To them, drivers ar just costly inconveniences.

And not very costly at that.

[madville]

5. That's a CYA policy

No one pays attention to such things at the ground level, if a driver or passenger is concealed carrying the topic would never come up 99.999% of the time.

[L0oniX]

7. Unenforceable ...and they will get a lawsuit over this.

[7962]

8. from a few of the incidents I've seen, you may need to be armed,

to protect yourself from the driver!

[marble falls]

9. Good for Uber. How do they enforce it??

[Fuddnik]

12. They can't and won't.

See post #10.

[mrmpa]

13. Gee thanks Uber.............

as a driver, the more rules they make, the more likely it is that I am an employee, not an independent contractor. It is my car, hence my property, my body, my life, 99.9% of my passengers are okay; if I want to carry a gun for my protection against that .10% then that is my perogative.

[lancer78]

16. Uber sets the rates

you are already an employee.

[alp227]

14. BUT THE SECOND AMENDMENT! </sarc>

[ileus]

17. concealed means concealed....or choose a safer alternative.

One that respects your desire for personal safety.