DOJ files lawsuit against Uber for charging travelers with disabilities ‘wait time’ fees, defying ADA
Uber for charging travelers with disabilities a “wait time” fee for needing more time to enter a vehicle.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on Wednesday, accuses the rideshare company of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act and harming “many passengers and potential passengers with disabilities throughout the country.”
Uber did not immediately respond to a request for comment from USA TODAY.
Uber started charging a wait time fee in select cities in April 2016, according to the Justice Department, but the policy has since been expanded nationwide. The fee goes into effect when it takes more than two minutes for a passenger to reach an Uber car after it arrives at the designated pickup location, and prices vary depending on how long the driver waits.
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The Justice Department said this policy is unfair to travelers with disabilities, including travelers with wheelchairs or walkers who need more time to break down and store their equipment and blind travelers who may need more time to walk to the car.
“Uber’s wait time fees take a significant toll on people with disabilities,” Acting U.S. Attorney Stephanie Hinds for the Northern District of California said in a press release. “This lawsuit seeks to assist people with disabilities to live their lives with independence and dignity, as the ADA guarantees.”
The lawsuit asks the court to order Uber to modify its wait time policy to comply with the ADA, train its staff and drivers on the ADA, and pay damages to people who had been subjected to the wait time fees as well as a civil penalty.
“Uber and other companies that provide transportation services must ensure equal access for all people, including those with disabilities,” Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said in the release.
Follow USA TODAY reporter Bailey Schulz on Twitter: @bailey_schulz.