Taxi companies do not set the prices that is done by the government sorry to say, in NYC it's the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission. So no they don't use the high barrier of entry for that at all. Any proof of that crazy lobbying? You have made a bunch of accusations but failed to back any of it up.

You do know why the medallion's exist right? It has nothing to do with your taxi cartel conspiracy. It had to do with too many (over 30,000) taxis on the road causing major traffic problems. In 1937, Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia signed the Haas Act which introduced official taxi licenses and the medallion system that remains in place today. The law limited the total number of cab licenses to 16,900, but the number dwindled to 11,787 licenses over the next six decades until 1996 when the TLC added 133 new licenses bringing the total to 11,920.Since 1996, more medallions have been added to the fleet bringing the total number of cab licenses to 13,237 as of 2009.

except how many Uber drivers have done the legal thing and gotten a commercial policy? They should require verification of commercial insurance and a valid TL license.

Great so the passenger is covered, the driver? not so much. http://ridesharedashboard.com/... On a side note, they also refuse to accept service animals so another law they violate.

Really so the fact that there were son many taxis in NYC that emergency vehicles had trouble getting around had nothing to do with the regs? But you go ahead and make up your conspiracy theories so you can defend the unequal playing field.

The taxi companies had fuck all to do with the laws in NYC or Chicago or any other major city. The medallion system is to limit the number of cars on the road, so they are not gridlocked with taxis.

No not even close. If you are driving passengers for hire you need a valid license, and no your drivers license does not count, you need a TL License (that's Taxi/Livery), you also need to register your car as a commercial vehicle. You need a commercial insurance policy, because you are on the road for more hours then normal drivers so you have a much higher risk of an accident. Otherwise your asking the rest of us to subsidize your employment.

Whats a Taxi without a fare then?

No, it's more like a taxi with out a fare.

It's not being pro big government, it's about wanting our laws to be followed. Sorry but I don't get to ignore laws I don't like, why should Uber?

Car service is more apt. But still the requirements are the same, it's a commercial vehicle, so it requires commercial plates, it requires a commercial license Taxi/Livery, it requires a commercial insurance policy. That's law, Uber is basically an illegal gypsy cab company.

Medallions are no longer worth what they were. In Chicago they went from around 350k to 220k. And yes the taxi market is constrained, to limit the number of cars on the road, not to keep the taxi moguls happy.

The only point? What about needing commercial plates, and a taxi license? You understand if you get caught using passenger plates for commercial activity can cost you right? And not having a valid license means you can actually get arrested if they so desire.

Also Uber drivers need commercial plates and a taxi license. I am betting most don't. And insurance will gladly sell you a commercial policy it just costs more.

I am not sure any insurance will legally have to cover you unless you have a valid license. If you are driving a car for hire you need to have a taxi license. Without that you are driving without a valid license.