California judge: Uber should be suspended and fined $7.3 million

On Wednesday, a California judge recommended that Uber be suspended from operating in the state and fined $7.3 million.

Judge Karen V. Clopton of the California Public Utilities Commission said that the ride-sharing company did not comply with state laws intended to make sure drivers parcel out rides fairly to passengers regardless of where they live or who they are, the Los Angeles Times reports. For months, Uber has refused to provide that data, an omission Clopton said was in violation of a 2013 state law that legalized ride-hailing companies and required each business to complete an annual data report on rides provided.

Uber said it plans to appeal, a process which could take several months. Clopton wrote that until Uber "complies fully with the outstanding requirements," the proposed ban would be in effect. Those requirements include listing the number of requests for rides from people in wheelchairs or with service animals and how many rides took place, plus day, time, ZIP code, and fare price. Uber's 2014 report did not include this information or details on drivers who have been suspended or committed a violation, Clopton said.

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