Taiwan fines US Uber on illegal operations

(MENAFN) Taiwan has slapped a string of fines on app-based taxi service Uber for operating illegally, the latest blow to the US company which is involved in a number of international disputes, The Peninsula Qatar reported.

A spokesman for the island's highways department said popular but controversial Uber had registered with the government as a company, but had not declared that it was offering transport services.

The authorities have ramped up their investigation into the firm in response to anger from other taxi drivers who said their income had been hit unfairly by the app.Uber said it was in talks over the penalties.

The highways unit handed down 30 fines to Uber totaling USD81.2 since September for breaking transport laws against operating without a license. A total of 33 local drivers are also fined USD51.94 for the same offence.