It looks like the ban on personal ridesharing has been lyfted here in Virginia.
It looks like the ban on personal ridesharing has been lyfted here in Virginia.
A statement from the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) released last week suggests the VA DMV will reverse their ban on services like Lyft and Uber. These services allow almost anyone to act as a taxi service using a smart phone and their personal vehicle.
“We are encouraged by reports that the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is taking steps to allow innovative transportation network providers Uber and Lyft to operate in the Commonwealth,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the CEA in the release. “As we noted from the moment the DMV issued a ‘cease-and-desist’ order to these companies, denying them the ability to operate in Virginia is anti-consumer, anti-jobs and directly at odds with Virginia’s reputation as a pro-business state.”
Regulatory issues remain for the businesses, like Uber which had began operating in Hampton roads and in the D.C. Metro area until a cease and desist order was issued in early June.
After the order was issued, Uber went on the defensive saying the order hurt job creation and contributed to a modern economy. But the company was willing to work with the DMV to find solutions. “We look forward to continuing to work with the Virginia DMV to find a permanent home for ridesharing in the Commonwealth,” said Kaitlin Durkosh, Uber’s PR manger.
Gov. McAuliffe’s office was on the list of ‘thank you’s’ by the CEA – the gov helped get a temporary order in place to allow the businesses to operate while the GA comes up with a permanent solution.
