Key West Uber Driver Arrested Following Notice Of Crackdown
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KEY WEST (CBSMiami) – Following a July 1 city crackdown on unlicensed Uber drivers, a Key West driver was arrested Friday, and is now facing jail time and a $500 fine.
Martin Maness, 51, was arrested following a recent Police Department notice that the department would crack down on unlicensed vehicle-for-hire drivers, according to Keys Info Net.
An undercover Key West police officer received a ride from Maness from Key West International Airport, on South Roosevelt Boulevard, to the Reach Resort, at 1435 Simonton Street.
Maness was booked into jail around 10:40 PM and was bailed out early Saturday on $701 bond.
Maness was charged with two misdemeanor counts of violating the city's ordinance that requires drivers of any ride service, like Uber and Lyft, to have a passenger vehicle-for-hire driver permit and vehicle license. Key West said, on July 1, that it would begin arresting any unlicensed vehicle-for-hire drivers.
Department spokeswoman Alyson Crean said Maness's arrest followed complaints that Uber drivers were picking up fares from Key West International.
According to Crean, Maness said he knew about the crackdown, but said he continued to pick up fares because he thought it was worth it.
Maness could receive up to 60 days in jail and be fined $500.
The vehicle-for-hire licenses are limited and have not been available for more than 20 years. The only way to get a license is to buy an existing one from another license holder of the City Commission could hold a public hearing on requests for new licenses in October of each even-numbered year.
The Keys Info Net Contributed To This Report