Alpes-Maritimes: Three ride-hailing drivers suspended after paid transport services from Italy
At the La Turbie tollbooth in the Alpes-Maritimes region, seven ride-hailing drivers were stopped while transporting passengers without proper documentation. After reviewing their cases, three of them received a temporary suspension of their professional licenses, ranging from two to three months depending on the circumstances. The mea, announced by the prefecture on September 29, 2026, concerns the border area between Menton and Italy.
What we know
The disciplinary committee for ride-hailing drivers met on September 17 to examine the seven cases, according to information published by Les Petites Affiches . In three cases, the prefecture noted that the fares were deemed disproportionate to those charged for a typical ride, a factor considered when determining whether there was an intent to facilitate passage. The amounts mentioned by the president of the Union of Ride-Haute-Provence/Var (06/83) range from 150 or 200 euros to several thousand euros.
The union reports that drivers are sometimes asked to pick up passengers in Italy after a booking has been made from Menton. It also points out that picking up clients on Italian territory requires authorization from local authorities. These explanations come from its president, as quoted by ICI Côte d’Azur; they do not specify the circumstances of each individual case.
The announced suspensions are professional sanctions; they do not, in themselves, constitute a criminal conviction. The French Code on the Entry and Residence of Foreigners and the Right of Asylum provides, subject to exemptions by law, for up to five years’ imprisonment and a €30,000 fine for facilitating the irregular entry, movement, or residence of a foreigner in France. No criminal proceedings concerning these three drivers are specified in the available information.
The issue is concentrated on the border of the Alpes-Maritimes region.
The case concerns checks at the La Turbie toll plaza and reported pick-ups in the Menton area, near the French-Italian border. It therefore does not involve the entire Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. For residents and travelers, the case primarily highlights the difficulties in monitoring cross-border journeys made by private hire vehicles.
The president of the Union of Private Hire Vehicle Drivers (VTC) for the Alpes-Maritimes (06) and Var (83) departments believes that suspensions are insufficient if drivers’ accounts remain active on the platforms. This is the union’s position: no account suspensions by any platform have been announced in the available information. The prefecture has not publicly detailed the seven cases nor indicated whether further decisions are expected.
The next steps
The suspensions of professional licenses are expected to last two to three months. The potential criminal proceedings and any meas the platforms might take remain to be determined. At this stage, the known decision concerns the professional activities of the three sanctioned drivers.
Source: France 3 Regions – Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
Original article: See the original source
