Portland sues Uber after 4 days in service
That didn't take long. The city of Portland, Oregon, sued Uber on Monday, calling it an "illegal, unregulated transportation service," according to a news release. The company launched in Portland just last Friday.
Mayor Charlie Hales had a few scathing words:
Taxi cab companies follow rules on public health and safety. So do hotels and restaurants and construction companies and scores of other service providers. Because everyone agrees: good regulations make for a safer community. Uber disagrees, so we're seeking a court injunction. [City of Portland]
The city's Bureau of Transportation stuck Uber with two civil penalties: operating without a company permit and operating without a vehicle permit.
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Uber's fine print claims the company is not a transportation provider.
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Julie Kliegman is a freelance writer based in New York. Her work has appeared in BuzzFeed, Vox, Mental Floss, Paste, the Tampa Bay Times and PolitiFact. Her cats can do somersaults.