Prosecutors in Los Angeles and San Francisco have sued Uber over its background check policies and other business practices, alleging that the ride-sharing service lied to give customers a false sense of security.
San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon and Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey had joined to sue Uber, claiming that the company violated California law with fraudulent business practices. The lawsuit alleges that Uber lied to consumers about the strength of its background check system and charged UberX users a $1 "Safe Rides Fee" that falsely advertised the checks. The lawsuit also accuses the company of illegally operating at airports, charging riders fraudulent airport fees and calculating fares without consulting with state agencies, said a report in the Huffington Post.
Uber responded by saying: "Californians and California lawmakers all agree -- Uber is an integral, safe, and established part of the transportation ecosystem in the Golden State. Uber has met with the District Attorneys to address their concerns regarding airport operations, the uberPOOL product, background checks, and operation of the app," said Uber spokeswoman Eva Behrend in a statement provided to The Huffington Post. "We will continue to engage in discussions with the District Attorneys."