Apparently Uber and Lyft are Illegal in Virginia
Bad news for Virginia travelers — Uber and Lyft apparently received cease and desist orders today from the Virginia DMV.
According to this article on PilotOnline.com, Secretary of Transportation Aubrey Layne really likes their business models, but under current Virginia law it’s illegal. Apparently the DMV is thinking of changing Virginia’s motor carrier laws in the next year, but until then they need to shut down operations.
Now I know nothing about the current laws in any state, and whether they have merit or not. I am curious what impact this would have on the Northern Virginia area, where DC and Maryland suburbs are so close. Could you still take Uber or Lyft into Virginia? Would that result in additional fees?
Hopefully it will be a moot point as both carriers have continued to operate despite previous fines being levied. Uber has saved me more than once when I was cutting it close for an early morning flight and the taxi I called for never showed. If they are shut down it will cost me time as well as money!
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Same issue here in Florida. Anyone transporting passengers for a fee is required to be inspected and licensed. Apparently the powers that be are considering the service to be no different in requirement than Taxi or Limos services. They are clamping down in Miami and are prepared to blast the drivers. Fines are up to $2K on a second offense. It was all over the local news last evening.
Just opened up my Uber app here in Arlington and there are about 10 UberX cars within 2 minutes of my location and similar numbers of UberXL and UberBlackCars.
Safe to say at least as of now the cease and desist letter hasn’t had any impact
Before this, despite warnings in May, Lyft was operating, but paying fines to the state of VA for operating in Hampton Roads.
I actually heard a sponsorship today on terrestrial radio in Hampton Roads for Uber.
This is not the end for Uber and Lyft in Virginia.