Justice Department sues Uber for charging ‘wait-time’ fees to passengers with disabilities

The Justice Department on Wednesday sued Uber alleging a “pattern” of discrimination violating the Americans With Disabilities Act, signaling that the Biden administration is more aggressively targeting tech companies’ civil rights records.

The suit accuses the company of charging “wait-time” fees, which it began implementing in a number of cities in 2016, to passengers who need more time to enter the car due to disabilities. Uber did not “make reasonable modifications” to its policy for passengers who need more than the allotted two minutes to enter a car, according to the suit filed in Northern California district court. There are many reasons people may require additional time, the DOJ argues, including needing to break down a wheelchair or walker before entering the car.