QCOSTARICA – While authorities in Costa Rica continue to dillydally, in Colombia, the Superintendency for Transport, has fined Uber US$140,000 dollars for providing unauthorized taxi services.
According to a report in TodayColombia, Uber was fined in spite of agreeing to a six-month deadline with the administration in November that would allow the transport service to formally register as a company in Colombia.
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While unprecedented in Colombia, the fine for Uber is small compared to the US$7 million dollars it was forced to pay over similar claims made in California in January.
Like in Costa Rica, Uber is controversial with Colombia’s taxi drivers who claim the app-based service is illegally competing with the traditional taxi services.
Authorities in Costa Rica have repeatedly said Uber is operating illegally, but, has yet to any action again the private transportation service from operating in the country. What the government of Costa Rica has said is that Uber And Its Drivers “Must Pay Income Tax”.
Uber Costa Rica officials maintain their right to operate, being a private service and as such does not require licensing of its drivers and vehicles.