The woman driver of Uber in Miami «felt discrimination» after she was fined in the amount of $ 250 because she doesn’t speak English.
Carmen Hechavarria violated a city Ordinance, which States that drivers applications focused on the transportation of passengers, must «be able to communicate in English.»
54-year-old Hechavarria not understand when a police officer approached her, saying «good morning», according to police.
«She looked at me like she didn’t understand me,» said the officer. The conversation took a wielding Spanish fellow officer.
«The more he talked with her, the more he realized that she can’t speak English and don’t understand it,» said the policeman.
«I felt discrimination against myself,» said Hechevarria one of the local TV channels.
A representative of Uber Javi Correoso said that the law does not require that the drivers spoke English. They only need to be able to communicate. Apparently, he was referring to non-verbal communication. The application, said the representative of the company, allows people to understand each other, even if they speak different languages. Can sign up for it all, including deaf drivers and foreigners.
The County declared itself a bilingual after became home to Cuban immigrants fleeing the dictatorship of Fidel Castro. The status was repealed in 1980, but later was restored in 1993.
July 1, the local Ordinance will be replaced by the state law, which does not have clear requirements for English proficiency.
According to Mike Hernandez, representative of the mayor of Miami, about 40 drivers received official warnings for breaking the rules of language use from the beginning of the year.
«There is a strong likelihood that this administrative fine may be cancelled,» he added.
