The Hamburg, Germany court system has reauthorized Uber to operate, at least temporarily. Despite the resurrection, which was based on a technicality, the court did dictate that the service was “probably illegal” as drivers for the service lack a passenger transportation license, similar to the situation that Lyft faced in New York City.
The country’s licensure requirements are strict, with annual requirements to continue operation. Uber has requirements for drivers, but the question of documentation of these restrictions, and the drivers actually being who they claim is in question in Berlin, the source of the shutdown order.
The ruling judge said that while the economics department doesn’t have the authority to issue the ban, “the drivers probably act illegally because they presumably offer passenger transportation without a license.” The ruling also dictates that Uber is involved, as the facilitator of the “ride sharing.”
The economics department will appeal the ruling. Given the ruling by the court, Uber faces further challenges in the country, and will likely have to curtail operations and figure out how to comply by existing laws that it calls in need of reform.
