Uber seems to have found an ally in Libertarian Costa Rican lawmaker

(Uber)

August 18^th, 2015 (ICR News) It seems that the controversial “driver-for-hire” smartphone app, Uber has found an ally in Libertarian lawmaker Otto Guevara.

Guevara told CRHoy.com that Uber does not need government permission to operate and could provide Costa Ricans with safe and cheap transportation.

The Libertarian lawmaker points to several articles of Costa Rica’s constitution, including Article 28 which guarantees the autonomy of citizens, which Guevara said means that everything “not [specifically] forbidden is allowed.”  Guevara also points to Article 45 on private property and Article 46, which deals with the promotion of competition and the prohibition of monopolies.

Guevara said that the Constitution defends the economic freedom of citizens and therefore anyone should feel free to offer their services as a driver through Uber.

Guevara said that there is a difference between “private” and “public” transport, and that Uber’s model is that of a private, pre-negotiated transaction between the driver and passenger, unlike traditional “red” taxis that roam the streets looking for customers.

Uber has begun allowing drivers in Costa Rica to sign up for the service on its web site, and the company is likely to begin operations “in the coming days” and without the approval of Costa Rica’s transport ministry, sources with knowledge of the situation told ICR News.

Meanwhile, transport minister Sebastian Urbina has repeatedly stated that Uber is obligated to comply with the country’s public transport laws and to be regulated by the Public Transport Council.

Uber drivers who do not have a government-issued permit to provide public transport face having their vehicle’s license plates seized by traffic police if their passenger admits to having paid for the ride, in exactly the same manner as any other “pirate” taxi driver, deputy transport minister Sebastian Urbina told the radio program Nuestra Voz last week, adding that in Costa Rica “the law is very clear.”