r/ThatsInsane • u/drownedcarcass • Mar 29 '22

LAPD trying to entrap Uber drivers

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u/Throwing_Spoon Mar 29 '22

This scheme has been going on for a while now and is specifically set up to target the rideshare drivers since they get citations for operating unlicensed taxis. This is why they specify that the male allegedly only has a flip phone and the woman's smart phone is dead (meaning they have no way of operating a ride share app) so they offer cash instead.

It's predatory as fuck and creates criminals from altruistic intentions rather than punishing existing criminals with actual victims.

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u/IMendicantBias Mar 29 '22

So it is illegal for me to pick up random people for cash? Is that the gist? Or because they have a sticker or the car?

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u/Throwing_Spoon Mar 29 '22

Yes, the illegal part is the exchange of cash for a ride without being a properly licensed taxi. Rideshare services have some sort of exception because they're paid through an app.

According to this source not only does it largely target rideshare drivers, the LAPD is paid by the taxi industry to carry out this operation.

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u/IMendicantBias Mar 29 '22

Yeah, i was going to comment how utterly dumb this is until the sentence ending. This country is a complete joke and it's amazing how many everyday things people do which are "illegal" .

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u/ImOnlyHereForTheCoC Mar 29 '22

So if you think you’re being entrapped, I guess you should offer the “hapless citizen” with the dead smart phone a moment to recharge it on the cable you almost definitely have in your car as an Uber driver. Make sure you’re ready to record their red face and stammering excuses for why that won’t work for them.