France fines drivers who pick up fares through Uber's low-cost service

Paris

UBER has been facing regulatory headaches as it rapidly expands around the globe, and adding to those are new fines in France for drivers viewed as being illegal chauffeurs.

After protests and bans against the US ride-booking service in cities like Rome and Rio de Janeiro, Uber had decided to play nice with regulators by working with politicians to find ways for it to operate within the bounds of local laws. But Uber, which allows drivers to connect with passengers through a smartphone app, still has far to go to convince wary French lawmakers that Uber should be allowed to operate in their cities.