cambridge sues to overturn state ok of uber livery service - distance measuring device

The city of Cambridge has sued to overturn the state's ruling, allowing Uber, the smartphone app maker that people use for private car transportation, to continue operating despite complaints from traditional taxi services.
On August, an intermediary in Massachusetts initially ordered Uber to stop operating, saying it was based on a GPS fare determination system-
The positioning technology has not been tested.
The agency, the Massachusetts Standards Division, suddenly changed itself after strong protests from users and others in the local technology division reached sympathy with Governor Deval Patrick.
Now, Cambridge, which initially attempted to stop its services in May, has filed a complaint with the high court of middletex, arguing that the state ruling allowing Uber to continue operations "has no conclusive evidence to support ", and "abuse of discretion ".
"The taxi industry is strictly regulated for reasons of public safety, consumer protection and fair competition," said Elizabeth rushway, a Cambridge City lawyer.
"Allowing Uber to evade applicable laws and regulations violates these principles.
Patrick's administration spokesman Jason leeftz declined to comment on the Cambridge challenge, saying only, "We are confident that at the end of the process everyone will have a better understanding of the technology, and how to get businesses to apply the technology correctly and to get consumers to use it best.
Uber chief executive Travis Kalanick said he expected the Cambridge suit to fail.
"The court respects administrative bodies such as standard division," Kalanick said . ".
"Our customers are very satisfied with our service.
We have nothing to complain about.
"Uber shapes itself as a" private driver for everyone "through an app that allows passengers to ride it smooth, high
A black sedan or sport utility vehicle.
The app uses a GPS-based metering system
Location technology for calculating fares based on time, distance and speed.
In last May, Cambridge launched a sting action against Uber, citing San Francisco-
Calculate fares and companies operating unlicensed uniforms using nonconforming product measuring devices.
Some government officials say, unlike traditional taxi meter, they can't know whether Uber's system is accurate or not and will not charge people too much.
Uber appealed Cambridge's reference to nonconforming products to the Massachusetts Standards Department. On Aug.
1. The Department ruled that because there is no established technical standard for precision measurement of GPS technology in commercial transaction smartphones, Uber must stop operating.
Uber fans have complained about a tough-worded petition and malicious Twitter and blog campaigns, criticizing the ruling as an attack on innovation that is driving the MIT tech economy.
Patrick's staff were so scared of the accident and said the government would review the situation.
Patrick spokesman Brendan Ryan responded to Uber fans with his own Twitter at the time: "Full disclosure: @ mass_bos is very popular at @ massgovernor office.
"I used it to go home from Springsteen last night," he wrote, referring to a rock musician concert in Fenway Park in August.
The reversal of standards began soon.
Deputy director Charles Carroll said the government had learned from that point that the technology used by Uber "is currently under review by the National Institute of Standards and Technology for standard-setting, during which the company will be allowed to operate.
According to Don Onwiler, executive director of the National Conference on Weights and Measures, the process of setting standards for Uber technology may take several years to develop uniform weights and measures for local regulators.
Established in 2009, Uber operates in several major cities outside Boston, including Chicago, Los Angeles and Denver. Often cause complaints from rival taxi service who say it has an unfair advantage because it is not regulated as a taxi.
In Boston, Uber currently costs about $33 a car from downtown to Harvard Square.
The regular taxi cost for the trip is about $22.
Uber also warned customers, "Our prices will change over time when demand is strong to keep vehicles available.
"It's not just the state that Uber is fighting regulators.
In Washington, D. C. C.
City officials allow Uber to operate when considering the requirements of the regional taxi Board to regulate the service more closely;
In New York, the taxi and limousine board said it did not authorize any Uber
Although Mayor Michael Bloomberg said he was keen to see the apps running on the city streets.