米司法省、ウーバーを提訴　「待機料金」は障害者差別

【ワシントンＡＦＰ＝時事】米当局は１０日、乗車に時間がかかる障害者の利用客に「待機料金」を課すことは市民権保護に違反するとして、配車サービス大手ウーバー・テクノロジーズを提訴した。（写真は資料写真）
　ウーバーは運転手を指定場所で２分以上待たせた場合に追加料金を徴収しているが、司法省は障害者にこれを課すことは差別で「障害のあるアメリカ人法（ＡＤＡ）」に反すると指摘した。
　クリステン・クラーク司法次官補は声明で「今回の訴訟は、ウーバーにコンプライアンスを順守させるものであると同時に（中略）乗車に時間を要するというだけで障害のある乗客にペナルティーを科すことはできないと強いメッセージを送るものでもある」と説明した。
　ウーバーは、この問題について当局と協議してきたにもかかわらず提訴されたことに「驚き失望した」と述べた。
　さらに、待機料金は返金済みで、先週からは障害者であることを証明すれば待機料金が自動的に免除されるようにしたと説明した。
　司法省は、車椅子利用者が車椅子をたたんで車内に積んだり、視覚障害者が安全に乗車したりするには時間を要すると指摘し、ウーバーが待機料金制度を「合理的に」修正しなかったと述べた。
　司法省はカリフォルニア州の連邦地裁に提訴し、違反の是正、スタッフやドライバーに対するＡＤＡ講習、待機料金を請求された被害者への損害賠償、民事制裁金の支払いを命じるよう求めている。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】

〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2021/11/16-13:30）

US authorities argued in a lawsuit Wednesday that ride-share firm Uber violated civil rights protections by imposing wait fees on disabled passengers who needed extra time to board a vehicle.
Uber charges a fee if a driver has wait more than two minutes to pick up any passenger, but the Department of Justice said applying those costs to handicapped riders amounts to unlawful discrimination.
This lawsuit seeks to bring Uber into compliance... while sending a powerful message that Uber cannot penalize passengers with disabilities simply because they need more time to get into a car, said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke in a statement.
Uber called the suit surprising and disappointing, saying it had been in discussion with authorities on the matter.
The firm added it had refunded wait fees to handicapped passengers, and since last week any rider who certified they are disabled will have the charges automatically waived.
US prosecutors said the company has failed to reasonably modify its policy, noting that a passenger may use a wheelchair that needs to be folded and stored in the car or a blind rider may require additional time to safely walk to the vehicle.
The suit asked a federal court in northern California to order Uber to change its wait time fee policy to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
It also wants the court to order Uber to train its staff and drivers on the ADA, pay money damages to people subjected to the illegal wait time fees and pay a civil penalty.
The company already faces lawsuits from a series of passengers in the United States alleging they were victims of assault during Uber rides.
It has also fought court and ballot box battles in California, along with ride-share company Lyft, over whether drivers should be considered employees and thus entitled to certain benefits.