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A view of the taxi stand outside of the train station in Hoboken. (Chase Gaewski | The Jersey Journal)

(Chase Gaewski)

On a night in early August, Uber driver Joseph Broytman had just picked up a customer in Hoboken, when a police officer stopped him and knocked on his window.

The officer told the woman in his car to get out and call a Yellow Taxi at Washington and Eighth streets, Broytman said.

When she insisted on calling another Uber car, the officer said he'd just force her to exit that one, too. As for Broytman, he said he was given a stern warning not only for picking up a customer, but also because he didn't have a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit, as required by Hoboken law.

What many apparently don't realize is that it's illegal for Uber, or any other taxi service that is not licensed by the city, to pick up fares within Hoboken. And those who do are subject to hefty fines.

"This is my second job," Broytman, 40, a Staten Island resident, told The Jersey Journal over the phone. "I'm not doing this full-time, it's not worth the headache."

Despite being in violation of Hoboken's municipal code, Uber -- a cashless, app-based GPS system that brings registered and screened drivers to customers -- is growing in popularity in the city as a transportation option.

According to Hoboken's municipal code regarding taxis, it is "unlawful for a non-licensed taxicab to pick up or accept a passenger within the city for a destination within the city limits," with violators subject to fines of $1,000 or more.

Similar licensing is required by law for limousine drivers, according to another chapter of the code, with violators subject to fines of $500 or more.

Despite its unlawfulness, several Hoboken residents and frequenters recently took to reddit -- a bulletin board style news website -- to express their preference for Uber over other taxi services.

"Granted my sample size is only 4 -- but I think this is an awesome service that Hoboken commuters should be embracing," a commenter by the name of "nows" said on reddit. "In fact, because of the speed at which the cars arrive, the courtesy and cleanliness of the rides -- I would have happily paid double."

"Uber is indeed a far superior service, and the fares are cheaper than cabs," said reddit user davidj911, in the same message thread. "I use it to go back and forth to JC a lot, and for the airport."

Meanwhile, licensed taxi drivers at the Hoboken Terminal last week expressed their anger and frustration at what they said was Uber unfairly snatching away their business.

Emilio Cruz, 29, of Jersey City, has worked as a cab driver in Hoboken for six years. He has to make ends meet just like any other person making a living, he said.

Cruz said he pays his taxi company $350 per day to use the company's vehicle, and that he spends $140 per week on gas. He only earns what he makes on top of those expenses, he said, adding that Uber is taking that away from him.

"It just feels like the city isn't doing anything," Cruz said. "The city of Hoboken needs to send an email to the company Uber, (saying) 'Don't send your cars over here.'"

City officials stated that accommodating Uber would require a change to the city ordinance, which cannot be done until a state law is changed.

"We think Uber and other similar transportation technology companies provide a valuable service to our community," Mayor Dawn Zimmer said in a statement.

"Unfortunately, New Jersey state law has yet to catch up with these new business models, and we continue to urge our legislators to update the law in order to regulate these companies so they can operate safely and in accordance with all applicable laws. Until then, the city has an obligation to enforce the existing laws."

Uber does not have a physical presence in Hoboken, but rather drivers who, knowing that they will get many fares there, drive to the city and wait for a message from the company for possible fares. If there was no need for Uber in Hoboken, drivers would not position themselves there, clients and drivers say.

Assemblyman Charles Mainor, who has been working on a bill to establish safety standards for Uber and similar companies in New Jersey, told The Jersey Journal that the new legislation will likely be on the floor for a vote in October.

"It's a safety precaution to make sure that all the constituents in the state of New Jersey are going to be provided with a vehicle that's been properly insured, driven by someone who is qualified, licensed," he said.

Assemblyman Raj Mukherji, who is a sponsor of similar legislation based on a Senate bill introduced by Sen. Brian Stack, told The Jersey Journal that ride-sharing services offered by companies like Uber are neither allowed nor prohibited at the state level. Mukherji said the "void in the law" created the need for consumer protection, safety, and insurance requirements similar to taxicabs and livery services.



"As far as (municipal officials') concerns with the unregulated nature of ride-sharing services and the gaps in the present statutory rubric -- because the technology has outpaced the law -- there's merit to those concerns," he said.

When asked how many Uber drivers have gotten ticketed on a month-by-month basis over the past year, Hoboken officials did not immediately respond for comment. But Uber drivers who did not wish to speak on the record say the police and the city's Taxi and Limousine Commission have been vigilant in enforcing the law.

Officials at Uber said in a statement that they find it "disappointing that Hoboken regulators have decided to use scare tactics at the behest of entrenched special interests to intimidate drivers rather than improve transportation options in the community."

The company stated it was having "ongoing discussions" with state policymakers to "modernize and enhance the state's transportation ecosystem." Tickets issued by inspectors in cases like Broytman's are currently covered by Uber.

"If the laws haven't conceived of Uber's model, we'll work with policymakers and regulators to modernize regulations for this new paradigm," said Natalie Montalvo, of Uber's public relations department, when asked about Uber's conflict with Hoboken's current municipal code.

Journal staff writer Amanda Eisenberg contributed to this report.

Jonathan Lin may be reached at jlin@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @jlin_jj. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.