News (10.28.20): Uber Enters NYC Grocery Delivery Market, Uber Can Still Send Prop 22 Messages Through App, New York State Implements Seat Belt Law That Applies To For-Hire Transport Industry
Select news headlines for Wednesday, October 28th 2020
Uber Enters New York’s Crowded Grocery Delivery Game (Eater NY)
Uber appears to be initially focused on higher-end grocers and has signed-on upscale chains like Gristedes, Westside Market, and D’Agostino’s.
For now Uber’s grocery delivery service is only available to residents in parts of Manhattan, but the company plans to expand the service citywide in the coming months, according to a spokesperson.
The service is built into the Uber and Uber Eats apps and is carried out in partnership with Cornershop, a grocery delivery company acquired by Uber.
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Judge Rejects Request To Ban Uber From Showing Messages Favoring Prop 22 (Forbes)
In a lawsuit last week, two drivers accused Uber of illegally pressuring drivers to support Prop 22 through driver surveys and in-app messages.
The complaint wanted to ban Uber from the practice of sending “false messages” and wanted to make it clear that drivers have the right to vote “no” or not at all and they were safe from retaliation if they voted against Prop 22.
San Francisco Superior Court Judge Richard Ulmer said banning Uber from sending the messages would infringe on the Company’s free speech rights.
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All rear seat passengers must now wear safety belts under New York law (Newsday / NYC TLC)
A new New York State requires drivers and all passengers to wear a seat belt.
The law pertains to passengers not only in personal vehicles, but also those in taxis and ride-shares like Uber and Lyft. Violators face fines and three driver violation points.
"The unique thing about the New York law: it applies to ride shares and taxis. So it’s really great every one is required to buckle up no matter who they are driving with." - Christine Nastasi, registered nurse and pediatric trauma coordinator at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital
NY State officers may stop vehicles if drivers or passengers are not using seat belts. The penalty for a seat belt violation is a fine of up to $50 – and up to $100 and 3 points for the driver’s DMV license if a child under 16 is not properly buckled.
Drivers will be issued a summons for an unbuckled passenger under 16 years old or if the driver themselves is unbuckled.
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