MIAMI – Fake Uber and Lyft drivers were busted last weekend at Miami International Airport soliciting rides.
It’s illegal, unregulated and dangerous.
Miami-Dade County commissioners recently amended their ordinance to make the penalties for those caught more severe.
The undercover sting operation began Saturday morning, before the sun had even come up.
“We have four vehicles already and we started this at 6 o’clock in the morning,” said Ivan J. Cotayo, Passenger Transportation Coordinator for Miami-Dade County. “These are individuals who come to MIA, lower their windows and solicit…without the insurance, without the permits required in Miami-Dade County.”
It was a joint operation between Miami-Dade’s Passenger Transportation Regulatory Division and the Miami-Dade Police Department.
“They come here in the morning, they come in the afternoon, they come at night,” said Cotayo.
When asked if the illegal drivers know they shouldn’t be there, he replied, “Of course. Yes. You can see it in their faces.”
One driver who had already been busted once, issued a trespass warning and ordered not to return to the airport unless he was traveling, was caught a second time and placed in handcuffs.
“These people, we don’t know their background, we don’t know if they are felons, we don’t know if they have a driver’s license, we don’t even know if they have insurance on this vehicle,” said Cotayo. “And now they are coming to MIA to solicit and pick up people outside the platform. I don’t want our residents and tourists to be harmed by people who we don’t even know who they are.”
The driver of a blue Hyundai Elantra had fake Uber and Lyft signs in their windshield.
“They buy it online,” said Cotayo. “To get the attention of the consumer and make it more official.”
If you get into the car with one of these drivers, the ride is not tracked as it would be if you used an app.
The driver of the Elantra was asked by Local 10 News’ Jeff Weinsier why he didn’t just do things the proper way, but he refused to speak other than to claim he’d done nothing wrong.
Getting busted will be extremely costly to those illegal drivers.
“Each of these drivers are getting two citations,” said Cotayo. “Two civil violations of $1,010 each, plus their vehicles are impounded. Since January 2023, we have done 28 undercover operations and a total of 102 vehicles have been impounded.”
In order to do this legally, drivers must have a county license, pass a vehicle inspection, undergo training, pass a background check and provide proof of insurance.
Last month, Local 10 News reported on legitimate cab drivers at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport who were irate over illegal curbside solicitations that they say were taking money out of their pockets.
Since running that story, FLL said it has conducted six undercover operations, written 18 citations and 18 trespass warnings, made four arrests in conjunction with the Broward Sheriff’s Office and added two more officers to the airport’s ground enforcement.
As for the efforts in Miami, officials feel they are making a difference.
“We are getting a message out not to come to Miami-Dade County and work outside the platform, or try to solicit illegally,” said Cotayo.