Uber has shut down its service in Nevada barely a month after launching, following the issuing of a preliminary injunction preventing it from operating within the state. In a separate announcement, the company has also advised it has disciplined an executive following allegations he had tracked the location of a journalist using a corporate-level “God View” tool.
The injunction against Uber’s Nevada operation was issued by Washoe County District Court Judge Scott Freeman, reports the Las Vegas Review Journal. The Nevada Taxicab Authority and the Nevada Transportation Authority have both attacked Uber, claiming the service was illegal because its drivers were unlicensed carriers, who must pass tests and have proof of insurance. Uber claims drivers are investigated, drive late-model cars, and are covered by a blanket insurance policy to abide by regulations, but officials claim these measures are insufficient.
After a period where both authorities impounded Uber vehicles and cited drivers, the Nevada Attorney General’s office applied for injunctions in various counties. While Uber claimed it was a technology company rather than a transportation company, regulators pointed out that Uber operates similar to taxi cabs on face value.
In a blog post, Uber thanks customers in Nevada for using the service, and though admitting it was “temporarily suspending service” because of the court’s decision, it was committed to the state. After noting that close to 1,000 jobs were lost because of the ruling, the company claims “Uber has met a real need of supporting access to more transportation options, bringing accessibility to previously underserved communities,” before prompting readers to sign a petition to support efforts to try and convince state officials of its legality.
On Friday, the company told CNET it had “taken disciplinary actions” against Uber New York City General Manager Josh Mohrer for tracking a journalist. The claim comes after the company launched an investigation into Mohrer’s actions, which allegedly includes the use of a tool to see the positions of Uber customers and Uber cars in real time, as well as forming a privacy team headed by the former Chief Privacy Officer at IBM. Uber refused to state exactly what action it was taking against Mohrer, but did confirm its privacy policies and employee compliance was under review.
