Uber drivers in Nevada continue to offer rides to passengers despite a court order banning the service until November 7.
Uber, the popular ride-sharing service, is challenging the district judge's order of blocking the service in Nevada. According to the state's Taxicab Authority spokeswoman Teri Williams, 11 Uber drivers were seen picking up passengers in Nevada, AP reports. The action is seen as a violation of the Nevada laws licensing car services. As a result, drivers face fines up to $10,000 and risk their vehicles being confiscated.
According to Williams, at least one driver was spotted carrying out Uber services in the state borders a day after the District Court Judge James Russell in Carson City ruled the ban on Friday. However, the violation was widely spotted on the same day, with 10 drivers entertaining ride-sharing operations in Nevada on Friday.
In an earlier report by Associated Press, Williams said the Nevada Taxicab Authority impounded four Uber-driven cars across the state and drivers were slapped with hefty fines. In response, Uber spokeswoman Eva Behrend said the confiscations were "unjust" and that the company will support its drivers in both financial and legal terms.
Uber has a long running rivalry with taxi companies. The ride-sharing operations have threatened the existing cab companies that operate under a legal license. Uber, which does not refer itself as a taxi but a technology that connects drivers and passengers, is battling Nevada's highly influential taxi industry that is against Uber for operating illegally without proper licenses.
As for Uber, the company has received an impressive response with its launch in Nevada. According to the company, thousands of mobile users downloaded the Uber app to take advantage of the cheap fare service and hundreds of drivers passed security background checks to serve as Uber drivers. Uber rides are said to be 10 to 20 percent cheaper than the standard taxi fares in the state. The timing of the launch clashes with an 8 percent fare hike approved in Las Vegas this week.
