Uber Launches Sans Oregon City’s Approval

The ridesharing app Uber has launched in Portland, Ore. without city approval.

The app began working Friday at 5 p.m., and drivers were able to immediately begin offering rides, regional manager Brooke Stever said.

“I don’t think we’re going against the city’s wishes,” Stever told KGW-TV. “We hope the city embraces this and listens to their constituents, the people of Portland and drivers partnering with us.”

But there’s little chance of that happening. City Commissioner Steve Novick said Uber is breaking a law that prohibits unlicensed taxis, and the city is prepared to levy hefty fines against drivers and the company.

“There’s nothing sharing about this so-called `sharing economy’ company,” Novick said. “They want to profit in Portland without playing by the same rules as existing cab companies.”

Uber offers car service in 250 cities in 50 countries, and it has been fighting regulatory hurdles in many places.

Minutes after Uber started offering Portland service, code enforcement officers logged onto the app in an attempt to catch drivers violating taxi regulations. But demand was so high that they couldn’t book a ride, The Oregonian reported.

Novick sent two code enforcement officers and a staff member to stand outside a downtown Portland hotel to catch Uber drivers.

Standing on Southwest Broadway, Novick policy adviser Bryan Hockaday and Frank Dufay, the city’s private-for-hire-transportation manager, couldn’t get the app to book a ride.

“I think they’ve blocked me and Frank,” Hockaday said. “You have to sign up with your real name. It won’t let you use a fake one.”

Erich England, a city code enforcement officer, said two Uber drivers canceled on him when he asked for a six-block ride. When he realized they might prefer passengers seeking a longer ride, there were no drivers available.

“I guess we’ll try it again some other time,” he said.