Uber, 99 and Cabify Unite Against Regulation of Service by Brazil's Congress

09/26/2017 - 10h08

On Monday (the 25th) companies Uber, 99 and Cabify launched a campaign on the internet against a bill, scheduled to be voted upon in the Senate in the next few days, that would bring these app-based transportation services closer in line with the rules that currently apply to traditional taxi services.

The bill had already been approved in the lower House of Congress in April of this year. And although the original bill had been generally favorable to the companies, congressmen allied with traditional taxi services were able to attach two amendments to it that significantly affect the functioning of the app-based services.

These amendments removed language from the bill that described the services as an "activity of a private nature".

The amendments state that the vehicles are "rented out", in a similar fashion to taxis, and require that drivers for Uber and the rest of the companies in the sector be obliged to obtain "specific authorization issued by the municipal authorities".

For the operating companies, the bill could make the services inviable by increasing bureaucracy and including licensing requirements for commercial red license plates.

The campaign is directed at internauts with a bill created by the companies available for their evaluation as well as the possibility of printing and signing a petition.

"If you want to guarantee your right to choose and to make your voice heard, participate in the petition for a modern service and support a different regulation model for app-based services in Brazil."

If the text of the bill were to be approved as it was voted on originally in the lower house of Congress, the municipalities which have already regulated the functioning of app-based services would have to change their legislation.

In São Paulo, the companies pay a kind of tax per kilometer travelled.

Translated by LLOYD HARDER

Read the article in the original language

	Marlon Costa/Futura Press/Folhapress
	Taxi drivers protest against Uber in Recife