Running UberPOP drivers off road unacceptable: Minister

Running UberPOP drivers off the road and detaining drivers until police arrive is not acceptable, says Infrastructure and Environment Secretary Wilma Mansveld. Several traditional taxi drivers have tried to box in the alternative service’s drivers in recent weeks as a protest over the company’s business practices. While UberPOP is currently not legally allowable in the Netherlands, Mansveld told reporters at the National Auto Show that the service could become legal in the future, according to BNR. This year, several UberPOP drivers have already received thousands of euros in fines for driving an unlicensed cab. “I believe you must look at innovation,” Mansveld said. “I am busy with an evaluation of the taxi law,” and considering how the market and technology is changing, she said, adding that “new ideas and developments” could lead to changes in the law. The service was launched in Utrecht this year, in defiance of recent Dutch court rulings. It is also available in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Den Haag.