Ridesharing drivers fined in Virginia

Virginia is backing up its warning that ridesharing services shouldn’t operate in the commonwealth with action. Since June 5, when Virginia issued cease-and-desist letters to Uber Technologies and Lyft Inc., warning them their independent drivers as well as the companies could face penalties if they continued picking up riders, five ridesharing drivers have received citations The Washington Post reported.

All of the vehicles were initially stopped by Arlington County police for some other violation. A police spokesman insisted there was no sting operation in effect to snare ridesharing operators.

Uber and Lyft remain defiant, with an Uber spokesman saying the company, “will pay any unjust citations,” according to The Post.

This development is the latest flare-up in the tussle between taxicab drivers, ridesharing operations and the regulators grappling to sort the two out. Cabbies are miffed ridesharing drivers do not need to comply with taxi rules and regulations. Ridesharing operations insist they are not taxis and should be exempt from their rules.

Earlier this week, the conflict led to a traffic tie-up in downtown D.C. as cabbies mounted a street protest and asked District officials to follow Virginia’s lead and order the ridesharers to cease and desist.

Read the full story from the Washington Business Journal.
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