Here’s hoping you weren’t one of the unlucky people who requested an Uber in Naples the night of Thursday, June 6th. Because, in potentially unsurprising news since it comes out of Florida, an Uber driver named Alvaro Gutierrez got a DUI while on the Uber clock. While no one was injured, both Uber and Gutierrez have some serious soul searching to do.
Squats Won’t Excuse You From a Breathalyzer
Here’s what happened: law enforcement was summoned because Gutierrez was apparently trying to “ram” another car. When the police officers asked Gutierrez to produce his proof of insurance, he came up short. Who the hell is Uber hiring these days? After he failed the “show us the most basic thing you need to have when you drive a vehicle for a transportation company” test, they conducted a field sobriety test. Before issuing the examination, they asked Gutierrez if there would be any reason why he couldn’t successfully complete the tasks and he claimed yes—fatigue from leg day at the gym. Sore quads, specifically, were cited. No, he did not pass the sobriety tests with all A’s.
As someone who had a brief stint as a ride share platform independent contractor, I totally get wanting to drink on the job with this gig. It’s pretty brutal. I came to thoroughly understand why taxi drivers are such assholes. Having said that, it’s obviously the worst job to drink on for an ungodly amount of reasons. I don’t think anyone with a brain and a pulse needs me to list them. What’s most alarming about this incident is the fact that this is reportedly Gutierrez’s fourth DUI. I’m not one to point fingers but if I was, I might be pointing toward an AA meeting. When you start collecting DUI citations like baseball cards, you might need to examine your alcohol habits. I shouldn’t assume though. Perhaps Gutierrez has tried to get sober but not quite done drinking yet. If that’s the case, I would hope this is the final wake up call.
But Seriously, Get a Grip, Uber
Again, I’m just glad no one was hurt but I sure hope Uber got the memo in their high-falutin’ San Francisco headquarters. This is not the first account of something like this happening. Crazy incidents have been reported that might not have been preventable but how did Three DUI McGee pass the driver screening evaluation? Do you even need a license to drive for Uber now? I know that I always quietly seethe when my Uber driver has to keep the phone in his or her hand to see a map to the most basic cross streets in Los Angeles. But a boozebag over direction-less? It’s not exactly Sophie’s Choice.
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