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Uber pays $7.6 million fine to avoid suspension in California
FILE: An Uber app is shown as cars drive by in Washington, D.C., on March 25, 2015.
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Uber pays $7.6 million fine to avoid suspension in California
Ride-hailing company Uber has agreed to pay a $7.6 million fine to avoid getting suspended by the California Public Utilities Commission, the state agency which regulates its services.
The commission levied the fine Thursday, confirming an earlier recommendation that Uber be penalized for failing to submit records required by the state in 2014.
The state requires transportation companies like Uber to submit documentation on rides and passengers to ensure equity in the service of certain neighborhoods or people with disabilities.
Uber had initially failed to provide all the data and was fined $7.3 million by the PUC last July. The company appealed the decision in August. On Wednesday, an administrative law judge for the PUC recommended the even higher $7.6 million fine.
In a statement, an Uber spokesman said the company is "disappointed by the decision," but will pay the fine immediately to avoid suspension and then will appeal the decision in the California Court of Appeals.
Since the ruling last July, Uber said it has submitted all required data to the PUC and claims the way the fine was calculated was incorrect.
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