Wednesday, October 29, 2014

NEVADA NEWS AAND VIEWS 10/29/2014

Judge: Uber ride sharing can roll on, for now

By CARRI GEER THEVENOT
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

The constroversial ride-sharing company Uber can continue to operate in Southern Nevada, a Las Vegas judge ruled today.

District Judge Douglas Herndon made the ruling from the bench after holding a hearing on the matter.

Uber launched its service Friday but immediately met resistance from the state’s Department of Business and Industry, which oversees the Nevada Taxicab Authority and the Nevada Transportation Authority.


Enforcement officers from both agencies cited drivers for providing an “unlicensed for-hire transportation service” and impounded their vehicles. The San Francisco-based company responded by vowing to back its contracted drivers and providing rental cars for them until vehicles were freed from impoundment. Drivers can be fined up to $10,000 per incident.

Uber, which connects riders with drivers through an mobile device application, began in 2009 and now operates in more than 200 cities worldwide.

After Uber began operating in Nevada, state Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto obtained a temporary restraining order in Carson City.

On Wednesday, Herndon denied a temporary restraining order in Southern Nevada, though he said Uber drivers can still be cited.

A hearing on a state motion for a preliminary injunction to block Uber operations was set for Nov. 14.

Contact reporter Carri Geer Thevenot at cgeer@reviewjournal.com or 702-384-8710. Find her on Twitter: @CarriGeer.

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