NEW: Uber to Halt Operations in Portland for 3 Months While City Hammers Out New Rules
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Thursday, December 18, 2014
GoLocalPDX News Team
Controversial rideshare company Uber will stop operation in Portland for three months while an agreement is hammered out by the city.
Brooke Steger announced Wednesday, via Uber's website, that the company will stop picking up passengers starting Sunday. The city will then put together a task force to reform taxi driver laws.
"Uber will be pausing pick-ups within Portland city limits beginning the evening of December 21st so we can focus a concerted effort to giving Portlanders what they deserve — a safe, reliable option when it comes to transportation," Steger stated.
Portland Mayor Charlie Hales's office said Wednesday that a committee will be set up to review regulations affecting taxis and rideshare operations like Uber.
The task force will present recommendations for changes on April 9, 2015, according to Dana Haynes, spokesman for the mayor.
“The process initially will focus on taxi cabs and transportation network companies, with discussion and recommendations on the following areas: whether to continue to limit the total number of permits granted, whether to have a regulated pricing system, mandated criteria (including insurance, inspections and background checks), and accessibility," Haynes said. "In addition, the task force will explore how regulatory changes could improve driver earnings and working conditions."
Uber, operates in over 100 cities around the world, often illegally. The "ridesharing" mobile phone matches people who need rides with others who are willing to use their own private vehicle to take them. Payment is also handled through the app.
The compamy has been circling Portland, the largest U.S. city without a ridesharing service, for a year. On Dec. 5 the company announced that its drivers would start to operate in Portland, even though regulations prohibited them from doing so.
The company has waged a mini-PR campaign, circulating a petition demanding that the city allow the company to operate within Portland, and posting a video of Uber drivers testifying to how much they liked the extra money and other perks for working with the company.
Meanwhile, the City of Portland has levied over $67,000 in fines against the company and asked the courts to serve them an injunction to stop operations.
Uber has faced backlash by governments around the world. The state of Neveda kicked the company out of the state and the city of New Delhi India, clamped down on the company after a passenger was raped.
Related Slideshow: What 20 Cities Around the World Did when Uber Came to Town
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Louisville, KY
Uber launched in Louisville just in time for the Kentucky Derby last Summer.
Late last month, however, the Louisville Regional Airport Authority barred Uber from operating at its taxi pick-up and drop-off stations.
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New Orleans, LA
After seven months of wrangling, the New Orleans City Council ultimately voted in favor of legalizing ride-sharing services like UberX.
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New Delhi, India
The city's transportation authority banned Uber after accusations surfaced that an Uber driver took a young woman to a secluded area and raped her.
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Boston, MA
The City of Boston began working with a task force to work toward establishing ridesharing regulations.
This is after the city’s taxi cab union organized a rally where cab drivers drove around the block where Uber’s officers are and honked their horns for an hour.
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Amsterdam, Nederland
The Netherlands banned Uber services outright.
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Las Vegas, NV
Nevada issued a statewide ban against Uber after a court argued that the company operates just like a taxi business.
Uber temporarily halted its operations in the state later that week.
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Chicago, IL
The city government of Chicago chose to not take action when Uber came to town so its taxis did.
The Illinois Transportation Administration and the city’s taxi union sued the city in district court for allowing the company to operate in the city without becoming licensed operators.
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Taiwan
The government of Taiwan issued approximately $30,000 in fines to Uber before serving the company with a cease and desist letter.
Government suspended the licenses of a number of Uber drivers, according to reports.
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London, UK
London Mayor Boris Johnson stated it would be difficult to ban Uber without legal review.
In response, the city’s cab drivers staged protests similar to the one in Boston.
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Toronto, Canada
The City of Toronto issued a court injunction against the Uber last month.
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Seattle, WA
The Seattle City Council ruled 8-1 to allow Uber to operate in its city.
In the past, citizens have often been critical about the taxi system in Seattle.
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Montreal, Canada
Uber began operating in Montreal last month, and was quickly deemed illegal by the city government.
The company entered an agreement with the Royal Mounted Canadian Police to conduct background checks on its drivers and other safety regulations.
Meanwhile, the battle between the city and company is carrying on.
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Baltimore, MD
The Maryland Public Service Commission ruled that Uber is subject to the same rules and regulations imposed on other for-hire vehicles in the state.
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Bangkok, Thailand
The Thai government deemed Uber illegal last month. Drivers face maximum fines of up to $121 (฿4,000).
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Hoboken, New Jersey
Police in the City of Hoboken began ticketing Uber drivers for violating the city code on taxis. Fines can be as high as $1,000.
The mayor of Hoboken, on the other hand, has called Uber a valuable transportation option and said he wants to make it available to residents and visitors.
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Fort Lauderdale, FL
Broward County issued stern warnings against Uber, saying it would impound its drivers’ cars.
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San Antonio, TX
The San Antonio City Council is considering a vote that could increase restrictions on rideshare companies like Uber.
Uber responded with a letter stating that if the and amended ordinance is passed, Uber may have to abandon operations in the city.
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Munich, Germany
Germany also banned Uber from operating in its country this year.
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Denver, CO
Colorado became the first state successfully to pass a law regulating ride sharing by requiring background checks, vehicle inspections, and mandatory insurance for the drivers once they are logged into the app.
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