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Unaccompanied Underaged Minors

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#1 · (Edited)
A lot of drivers are unaware of the fact that Uber and state laws do not allow us to give rides to kids under the age of 18 when unaccompanied with an adult. I kind of stumbled across it in the passenger legal section looking for other information. I've since inquired about a drivers responsibilities a few times through the help section and have been told that we cannot pick up unaccompanied minors under 18 years of age. I was once told that we would lose our driving privileges if we do pick up unaccompanied minors.

I do have a problem with this for a few reason. The first reason is because they, Uber, do not seem to make this very important fact well known to drivers and /or passengers. Both Passenger and drivers are at risk when this happens and Uber seems to care little about informing either party. There is no insurance for either the driver nor passenger when this occurs.
Another point is that there isn't a category for this situation when cancelling the call, you don't get paid AND, if you get a few of these in a short period time, you cancellation rate goes up. There are other ways to close out the cancellation to get paid but there isn't one for unaccompanied underaged minors. I would like to get paid for the trip because I figure that the passenger is at fault, not me. They made me travel out to pick up them up when they aren't allowed in the system. They should pay for my time and travel and, hopefully, after a few times paying and not getting a ride, they will stop trying to use Uber which would put everyone at risk.
And that leads me to the other BIG problem. That is by letting them in your car, you put yourself into a libel situation. If there is an accident with a unaccompanied minor in your car, as far as I understand, you are not covered by any insurance. You also could be libel for other legal issues if you knowing did so. To me, this is not worth any amount of a fare much less if it's only about $5-$10.

Here is a little story told to me from a passenger that involved an unaccompanied unaged minor.
I had a passenger whose wife was in an accident with an Uber driver who was transporting a 16 yo kid. The car was totaled and his wife ended up in the hospital with a broken leg. Uber denied insurance coverage because the driver was not complicit with Uber regulations and state laws. The driver's own insurance certainly didn't cover the accident because the policy doesn't cover ridesharing. My passenger told me that he had to hire an attorney and sue Uber. He evidently won and got reimbursed but not without a lot of time and aggravation. A funny aside to this was that the driver tried to sue the passenger because he lost his driving privileges with Uber and felt it was the passenger fault because he sued Uber.

I no longer pick up minors EVER. I had in the past when I didn't know any better but I figured it isn't worth a possible $5-$10 fare that could ruin my life.

And parents don't seem to care. I had the experience where the parents were home and I refused to take their underage kids. They would say things like "I'm glad you told us, we didn't know." Then 2 minutes down the road I get a request from the same parents.
When I get a request from a high school, I call or text to inform them that they must have proof of age or I'm not taking them. It saves me the time of travel.
Elementary schools were out until once it were parents attending a parent-teacher conference. So I do call to see if it's a parent or teacher.

So I just want to inform those that don't know of the risk they assume when they allow an unaccompanied minor into their car. We should know our local laws and Uber regulations and I feel Uber should put more emphasize to make drivers AND passengers aware. They seem to not care. No Surprise?
Hope this helps.
 
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#3 ·
It kind of is the passengers fault. It's the rider's terms of services that requires account holders to be 18 or over, and not to let a minor use their account without being accompanied by the adult.
As a driver, we're not asked to or required to request proof of age.
As far as specific state laws, I've never seen one. Which law are you referring to?
All that being said, Uber is as sleazy as ever with this, and their ugly cousin Lyft follows their master as usual.
I'm terms of James River not paying, it sounds like more of the story was left out by your passenger.
 
#70 ·
Meh? What’s the worst that could happen…? I have the answer to that. An Uber driver deliverd a 13 yo boy to my ex husband’s home late one night. He proceeded to drug and rape my 14 yo daughter. My daughter then developed an eating disorder that has basically taken over my entire life. Not to mention the 3 inpatient treatment stays that have cost us well over $400,000. But ya know why follow company policy.
 
#15 ·
Last summer I picked up 4 entitled little asshats in Rumson, when asked thye were all conveniently 18 (even though one kid could not have been 13). They were going to JRs in RB, as they were getting out of the car the little barstids cancelled the ride. I filed immediately with Goober to get my money, and after a few back and forths I asked for an email address to send the video of the ride to. Immediate payment followed. Rumson is the land of the entitled!
 
#7 ·
It kind of is the passengers fault. It's the rider's terms of services that requires account holders to be 18 or over, and not to let a minor use their account without being accompanied by the adult.
As a driver, we're not asked to or required to request proof of age.
As far as specific state laws, I've never seen one. Which law are you referring to?
All that being said, Uber is as sleazy as ever with this, and their ugly cousin Lyft follows their master as usual.
I'm terms of James River not paying, it sounds like more of the story was left out by your passenger.
Ask your help desk if you can transport unaccompanied minors in NJ.

Can't vouch for passengers story but cant see a reason for him to make it up.
Do you?
 
#10 ·
Ask your help desk if you can transport unaccompanied minors in NJ.

Can't vouch for passengers story but cant see a reason for him to make it up.
Do you?
Help desk?
Somethings not right here. We don't have a help desk. Our in app support says exactly what I said... to do what your comfortable with, and no, you don't have to ask for I'D.
We also don't contact James River. They contact us after an accident.
You mentioned specifically state laws. What state laws?
Where also are thes "driver's responsibilities" that specify who we can and can not pick up? Where did you hear that drivers would "lose privledges?" What other "legal issues" can we be "libel" of?
I mean... It kind of sounds like you were denied a cancellation fee for refusing some bratty kids and you are rationalizing your frustration here.

Drive away and make them cancel. They will very quickly if they want to order another Uber. You get paid and you don't incur another cancelation.

As far as the drivers on here that admit to picking up underage kids even after reading this and knowing the best thing that can happen to you is just getting deactivated I hope you never have to deal with this after being in an accident whether it's your fault or not
It's true that it's against the rider's terms of service. Everything else this person posted is blatantly not true. It's not even a question of opinion, he bloated his post full of lies, which is a disservice to others.
Now, my opinion is that he never had a passenger with such a detailed story that he happened to remember.
Sorry, but #FAKE NEWS!
 
#8 ·
Drive away and make them cancel. They will very quickly if they want to order another Uber. You get paid and you don't incur another cancelation.

As far as the drivers on here that admit to picking up underage kids even after reading this and knowing the best thing that can happen to you is just getting deactivated I hope you never have to deal with this after being in an accident whether it's your fault or not
 
#9 ·
Thats what i try but I'm always surprised that they don't canell right away. Perhaps they need to contact parent or they just don't care, etc. But i need to get back on the road and after driving, generally 8 minutes, I dont like wait any longer.


Yeah, don't be foolish for a lousy few dollars
 
#12 ·
I just scanned the fUber contract using several different keywords trying to find any mention of not transporting kids and there no single mention of this that I could find. Of course common sense applies here. One day a parent came with a 10 year old put her in the back seat of the car and close the door, I assumed she wanted to ride in the front but then asked me to roll down the window and started giving me drop-off instructions LOL!.. no way I said.. if you are not coming I cannot take her.. I didn't sign up for fUber-Sitter hehe... she did't want to cancel, I took off, after 5 mins I just cancel no show, she disputed, they took away the fee, I asked why once, twice, nothing, after that I moved on and just called it cost of doing business.
 
#13 ·
I think the people that knowingly take minors and think it's OK when TOS clearly state no one under 18. If an incident occurs do you think foober is going to be your valued partner in a litigation or will they recite the TOS that you violated. God forbid your in a deposition or courtroom with an attorney and the best defense you can come up with. But I thought...
 
#14 ·
Lol, it's not our TOS! Nowhere does it even remotely come close to saying that. Enough of this hypothetical garbage, this is the most misguided barrage of follow the leader I've seen here in a long time.
You really question a HUGE portion of your riders who MAY look 17 their age and refuse service If they can't provide ID? Sorry, I do not believe that.
For everyone else, do yourself a favor. ACTUALLY READ OUR FINE PRINT AND OUR RESPONSIBILITIES. ACTUALLY READ THE JAMES RIVER "CONTRACT." ACTUALLY READ YOUR CONTRACT WITH UBER!
I challenge ANYONE to find language in OUR TOS that claims that this is our responsibility. REAL QUOTATIONS, not hypothetical garbage built on the OP's imagination.
We get screwed over by fUber and Shyt so hard, it's important to share FACTS that can help each other. Sorry, but this is not one of them.

I just scanned the fUber contract using several different keywords trying to find any mention of not transporting kids and there no single mention of this that I could find. Of course common sense applies here. One day a parent came with a 10 year old put her in the back seat of the car and close the door, I assumed she wanted to ride in the front but then asked me to roll down the window and started giving me drop-off instructions LOL!.. no way I said.. if you are not coming I cannot take her.. I didn't sign up for fUber-Sitter hehe... she did't want to cancel, I took off, after 5 mins I just cancel no show, she disputed, they took away the fee, I asked why once, twice, nothing, after that I moved on and just called it cost of doing business.
Exactly. There is nothing that binds us to enforcing a rider's own TOS. Now, no we don't take 10 or 12 year olds alone because it's what we just don't do.
Would I? He'll no. -But legally only because I'm not comfortable with it. Let's not give ourselves more laws and terms that don't exist.
What's next? UC's towing us again at Jersey Gardens?

Lastly, and them I'm done here, if any of you don't want to take someone you think may be 17 years old, the good news is that you don't have to. If you're not comfortable, you don't have to take the ride. However, it's not our legal responsibility to enforce a rider's responsibility.
Now, how about no car seat for a child too young to... That's different, because that's actually state law.
 
#23 ·
Rolled up to waiting pax at pickup location. Lowered my window.

This girl looks about fourteen years old, standing with her friends in this neighborhood of mini-mansions. She has what looks like an overnight bag.

Me: "Are you (name on app)?"

Her: "Yes"

Me: "You don't look eighteen."

Her: (confused) "I'm not."

Me: "Have a nice evening."

Window up. Drove away. Cancelled and reported the trip.

I'm not gonna be the guy the police come to ask questions when some little girl ends up on the news for running away to be with some guy she met online and ended up...whatever.
 
#24 ·
I picked up a 16 year old girl today (she was my 4th unescorted underage passenger of the day). I was bringing her from school to her work. She was telling me how since she became 16 she was proud to be able to get her first job.
She seemed much more mature and level headed than most of my daily underaged passengers (I might have served her in bar without asking for proof).
I was curious. I mentioned that Uber/Lyft are not supposed to allow underaged pax.
How did you get an account? Did you lie about your age?
"NO. I would never do that. I just gave Uber my credit/debit card, if they ever asked my age I would not lie"

Uber doesn't give a crap, and neither should you.
Just keep the dashcam to keep yourself out of prison.

Work the ghettos.
I have had a little boy (12?) bring his sister (10?) get in my car and direct me to their school while mommy smoked crack.

Or work the rich neighborhoods.
My surge ride of the day was going to a Jewish town and bringing a kid (15?) to a Jewish school many towns away.
Seriously? $75 to get to school? That must be one hell of a Torah lesson.

Underage, unaccompanied children are in my car everyday.
 
#25 ·
Uber doesn't give a crap, and neither should you.
The old saying is...
two wrongs don't make it right.

Do you think that Uber will look here for evidence that you knew in advance that you were in violation of the laws, regulations and company policy if you unfortunately get involved with a case involving something happening to an underaged minor?

Use your head folks!

Something to keep in mind is if you refuse taking the minor for a ride, do you think that you you will get another request soon enough where you aren't putting anyone at risk?

The answer is probably yes and it might be a better fare than some kid just going home.
 
#26 ·
User Requirements and Conduct.
Terms - Uber
https://www.uber.com/legal/terms/us/

The Service is not available for use by persons under the age of 18. You may not authorize third parties to use your Account, and you may not allow persons under the age of 18 to receive transportation or logistics services from Third Party Providers unless they are accompanied by you. You may not assign or otherwise transfer your Account to any other person or entity. You agree to comply with all applicable laws when accessing or using the Services, and you may only access or use the Services for lawful purposes (e.g., no transport of unlawful or hazardous materials). You may not in your access or use of the Services cause nuisance, annoyance, inconvenience, or property damage, whether to the Third Party Provider or any other party. In certain instances you may be asked to provide proof of identity to access or use the Services, and you agree that you may be denied access to or use of the Services if you refuse to provide proof of identity.

Hope that answers every ones questions.
 
#29 ·
you were in violation of the laws, regulations and company policy .
Laws - as far as I know it is not illegal in any way shape or form for anyone to transport an underage minor from A to B. (exceptions being across state lines for x, etc.). Is your neighbor allowed to bring your daughter to soccer practice?

company policy - Company policy is simply to confirm the pax is the person who ordered the ride. As far as I know, we are not allowed to ask for ID. Uber/Lyft do not want us to know who the actual passenger is. The passenger is allowed to supply us a "code name" (whatever nickname they made up) and then to confirm destination. It is not company policy to request that they prove they are "Mary, Hairy Balls, Big D". As a matter of fact, it is company policy that we only know this pax by their "code name". They do not want us to know their real name nor their contact information. It is Uber/Lyft policy that we simply accept "Mary" (even if a large male identifies themselves as Mary).
It is Uber/Lyft's responsibility to confirm that "Mary" is who he/she says they are, as we cannot and would be fired if we ask for legal proof of identity (assuming we were trained to judge the validity of the documents).

Uber/Lyft insists we do not verify, but trust the highly trained staff in Bangladesh to verify documents and then trust that "Mary" is who she says she/he is when they utter the code (Which is Mary).
If you do not like that, you are fired (or deactivated).

regulations - Really? Uber/Lyft care about "regulations"?

"The old saying is...
two wrongs don't make it right."
I do not thinks its "wrong" to bring a child to school. I do not think its "wrong" to bring a child from school to work. I do not thinks its wrong. Perhaps my moral compass needs readjustment.
 
#30 ·
What about transporting a child to her adult boyfriend's house, in his account, when her parents have no clue what's going on?

Having someone over the age if 18 with the minor makes THEM responsible. Without that adult there, the driver becomes the authority over the child, responsible for supervision.

Do what you will. I'll pass.
 
#37 ·
Laws - as far as I know it is not illegal in any way shape or form for anyone to transport an underage minor from A to B. (exceptions being across state lines for x, etc.). Is your neighbor allowed to bring your daughter to soccer practice?

company policy - Company policy is simply to confirm the pax is the person who ordered the ride. As far as I know, we are not allowed to ask for ID. Uber/Lyft do not want us to know who the actual passenger is. The passenger is allowed to supply us a "code name" (whatever nickname they made up) and then to confirm destination. It is not company policy to request that they prove they are "Mary, Hairy Balls, Big D". As a matter of fact, it is company policy that we only know this pax by their "code name". They do not want us to know their real name nor their contact information. It is Uber/Lyft policy that we simply accept "Mary" (even if a large male identifies themselves as Mary).
It is Uber/Lyft's responsibility to confirm that "Mary" is who he/she says they are, as we cannot and would be fired if we ask for legal proof of identity (assuming we were trained to judge the validity of the documents).

Uber/Lyft insists we do not verify, but trust the highly trained staff in Bangladesh to verify documents and then trust that "Mary" is who she says she/he is when they utter the code (Which is Mary).
If you do not like that, you are fired (or deactivated).

regulations - Really? Uber/Lyft care about "regulations"?

"The old saying is...
two wrongs don't make it right."
I do not thinks its "wrong" to bring a child to school. I do not think its "wrong" to bring a child from school to work. I do not thinks its wrong. Perhaps my moral compass needs readjustment.
From your pictures, if I had a daughter, she wouldn't be getting into your car! Sorry pal but appearances mean things
 
#39 ·
Not at all. And it's not against the law, as in Criminal, but an Uber and insurance liability one.

Uber does not want to be potentially liable for anything that might happen to an unaccompanied minor. Therefore, they put it into the rules that minors can not ride, account holders could be banned for allowing unaccompanied minors to ride, and that drivers could be deactivated for knowingly allowing unaccompanied minors to ride. We are not experts in determining age, nor whether someone else's identification is legitimate or not. This is where the dash cams come in. If we make the attempt to find out, and we believe what is told to us and shown to us we are off the hook. This is what I'm concerned about.

As far as the insurance goes, it's not so much an insurance rule in and of itself, but rather one that the insurance company will enforce because it is one that Uber wants in place. One can argue that an insurance company's job is to pay out on legitimate claims and weed out those that are not legitimate, and not pay out on them. Once Uber makes the rule that unaccompanied minors are not supposed to ride, Uber has removed itself from the liability chain, and therefore their insurance company, James River, is not responsible for paying out any claim related to said minor. If you as a driver have done your due diligence, and can prove that you have done so, you also remove yourself from that liability chain, and it goes back squarely to the account holder. The only reason that Uber's insurance will not cover the minor is because Uber says the minor was not supposed to be there in the first place. Full liability is assumed by the person who knew or should have known that this person was a minor, and allow them in anyway.
 
#40 ·
I don't transport minors. I always fight for my cancellation fee. Sometimes I get it, sometimes I don't. Today I canceled on a woman who had two toddlers with her. No car seat. She refused to cancel the call So I did. At first Uber refused my cancellation fee, but after a little back-and-forth I finally got it.
 
#42 ·
Car seat refusals = always. It's against the law for a reason.
Unaccompanied minors = driver's choice. It's against the RIDER'S TOS, not ours. We shouldn't take them just like we should accept every ping. This thread started with an OP repeatedly calling this against the law, which it is not. It's also not in our TOS to enforce this. It's good practice to refuse this service, but really, as an IC, their age is none of our business.

BOTH Unaccompanied minors and No Carseats SHOULD pay out cancellation fees, but they don't. It's best to always cancel as No Show after 5 min. to collect. Think about it. You arrived and:
NO acceptable rider SHOWed.

Really, Unaccompanied minors, accompanied minors and adults are illegal to pick up until May 1st. But, hey, it is what it is.
 
#41 ·
As a fairly new driver (under 75) I would LOVE to know the LEGAL answer to this, period. Wouldn't the same laws that applies to taxi drivers applied to us?
It is illegal to transport anyone in your personal car for hire. This law was rarely enforced and Uber paid for any tickets received. This will change in May when the new rideshare law is enacted.

Taxi laws do not apply for personal vehicles.
 
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