Vacationers arriving at Cancun Worldwide Airport (CUN) at the moment are on the mercy of ‘mafia’ working out and in of this transportation hub. This follows Uber drivers suspend operations after a sequence of assaults on themselves and their passengers – the vacationers visiting the Mexican Caribbean.
First, it is best to know that ordering an Uber, Didi or Cabify at this airport is now not unlawful.
In August 2024, the Eighth District Court docket dominated in favor of Uber drivers, stating that restrictions on experience sharing at CUN overtly violated the constitutional proper to free transportation.
“The court docket’s ruling, efficient from August 15, 2024, signifies that Uber drivers will now not want particular permission to function in airport areas. This determination removes earlier obstacles and permits Uber to compete immediately with conventional taxi companies.” says the official web site.
Nicely, conventional taxi drivers and Nationwide Guard members alike conform to disagree.
Even after the court docket ruling, taxi drivers proceed to argue that permitting Uber and different ride-sharing platforms to function violates federal regulation. Sadly, the Nationwide Guard has been seen siding with the taxi unions and cracking down on Uber drivers and vacationers.
A couple of weeks in the past, three vacationers have been harassed, photographed and filmed after taxi drivers known as the Nationwide Guard to have them arrested for ordering an Uber as a substitute of choosing their frequent extreme fares and poor taxi service.
When one of many girls claimed she was free to decide on the service “she felt was most secure,” law enforcement officials positioned her in a service automobile and tried to take her to the police station.
An Uber driver figuring out himself as Antonio M. warns that whereas authorized safety is essential, “The amparo (authorized order or safety for People) won’t defend you from assaults by [traditional] taxi drivers, the location mafia and even the Nationwide Guard mafia on the airport. Regardless of how a lot authorized safety you might have.”
Why are Uber drivers claiming that the Nationwide Guard could also be concerned in unlawful actions at CUN? In accordance with an April report by Alejandro García of Quequi Information, members of the Nationwide Guard allegedly conspired with native politicians to commit crimes on the airport. On the time, these crimes have been stated to primarily relate to unlawful taxi possession and fraud.
“Unlawful operators are underhanded and even protected by firm members [the National Guard] as a result of it’s an open secret that many of those items [illegal taxis] are owned by civil servants and native politicians,” García stated it on the time.
The opposite “mafia” this taxi driver is referring to consists of conventional taxi drivers, who’ve been concerned in quite a few bodily assaults on Uber drivers and vacationers, vandalism to their automobiles and, in fact, notorious scams.
In April, a rip-off concentrating on a Canadian vacationer went viral on TikTok when a standard taxi driver charged him greater than $1,000 to move him from Terminal 4 to Terminal 3. What made this rip-off significantly alarming was the involvement of two airport officers.
Regardless of the court docket ruling, Imoveqroo, the Mobility Institute of Quintana Roo – the federal government company liable for managing and regulating transportation companies throughout the state – has been criticized for allegedly concentrating on ride-sharing apps reminiscent of Uber.
Commenting on the scenario, the Uber driver stated: “Imoveqroo continues to conduct operations at Cancun Worldwide Airport. You may’t intervene as a result of the Nationwide Guard continues to be conducting operations. Briefly, no official announcement makes it clear whether or not you’ll be able to work or not, whether or not it’s authorized or unlawful.
Let’s make clear that. It is authorized. As a vacationer you might have the appropriate to order an Uber with out being focused by the police or harassed by conventional taxi drivers.
“What we’re ready for is for Uber to make an official assertion concerning the amparo and ensure whether or not they are going to take accountability for potential points, reminiscent of fines and detention charges imposed by Imoveqroo, which might quantity to 50,000 pesos (roughly $2,446 USD). As well as, there are towing prices,” stated Antonio M., including that Uber drivers danger having their automobiles seized for as much as 15 days.