The New South Wales state government has confirmed that it raided the Sydney offices of ride-sharing company Uber in April this year, around the same time the company launched its low-cost UberX ride-sharing service.
Reports The Sydney Morning Herald, a spokeswoman for Transport for NSW confirmed the Roads and Maritime Services executed a search warrant at Uber’s Sydney offices in April. “Information may inform legal briefings, therefore no further comment can be provided at this time,” said the spokeswoman.
“Transport authorities are continuing enforcement activities and have issued 10 court attendance notices to drivers who had been providing services to UberX in Sydney.” The raids were undertaken around the time Uber were testing their Uber X service around Sydney, which allows ordinary drivers transport passenger through the Uber app.
The service has provoked criticism from taxi companies and hire car drivers, and the state government has repeatedly insisted that it is illegal for private drivers to offer taxi-like services.
Fairfax also reports that following the raids, a person claiming to be a compliance officer for Transport for NSW visited the homes of UberX drivers, informing them the service was illegal. Transport for NSW did not comment on this.
Just last week Uber offered an official apology to its Sydney users for the surge pricing that saw massive fare hikes during the Martin Place siege.
