It's just outdated terminology "fixed meter". Many years ago when these rules were printed nobody foresaw a portable device capable of the things that these smart phones are. A smart phone is a phone, a camera, a calendar, a tv, a music system and many more things including a taxi meter. If anyone's gonna stand up to those American werewolf's it's gonna be the British. Good luck to all you Black cabbies on the 11th, hope u cause gridlock. I might join u on my bike (I'm one of the even more unfortunate half way through the Knowledge!) And a word of warning to all you would be customers...All a driver needs to become a Mini-cab, private hire (Ubers crew) is a relatively clear CRB, no driving experience, no personal knowledge of anywhere in London. Many years ago I worked in the mini-cab offices with the mob that'll be coming for you, don't do it. Stick with the stress free Black cab, cruise down the bus lanes in our safe KNOWLEDGABLE hands x
TL;DR<p>The technological description of a taximeter is out of date and technically TFL cannot find fault with Uber regarding the letter of the law. They are deferring to the High Court to gain a binding ruling based on the spirit of the law.<p>The case hinges on whether the Uber app constitutes being a taximeter despite not being fixed to the vehicle.
> I think driverless cars is still very much ... in the distant future, I cannot see it working in a city like London with the complex layout of its streets.<p>Best of luck with that, mate.
<i>"My view is that it's up to TfL to regulate the industry," said Uber's general manager Jo Bertram speaking to journalists today.</i> 1<p>[1]<a href="http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2014-05/30/uber-tfl-high-court" rel="nofollow">http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2014-05/30/uber-tfl-high...</a><p>This made me smile. I doubt that Uber will reissue that statement if the ruling goes against them.