Mérida, Yucatán — Since the Supreme Court sided with the state in regulating Uber, drivers are being particularly cautious.
Ride requests to the bus terminal, airport or even the City Center shopping mall have an 80 percent chance of being refused because that’s where surveillance is highest, according to Diario de Yucatán.
Transport inspectors, state police and taxi drivers have joined efforts to stop Uber in Mérida, which began in March 2016. So they keep a watch on Ubers and even enlist spies to detect them.
Drivers could lose their automobiles if caught. Hundreds of cars used as Uber vehicles have been seized by the state, and many drivers have said they haven’t gotten them back.
Uber has resisted the state’s attempt to regulate their business. The state wants drivers and car owners to register, decide which cars are suitable for use, and even regulate the number of Uber cars in service.
While Uber hasn’t complied, drivers are conducting business as usual, but with passengers now told to sit in the front seat so the vehicles won’t stand out.
Since the court ruling, drivers have been assured by the company that they will continue a presence in Mérida while continuing dialogue with state transportation officials. Not only is Uber intent on remaining, they still plan to roll out into other cities.
Uber has spread to 20 Mexican states, but only five states have successfully regulated the platform.
