Portland, Maine, Looks to Regulate Uber Ride Service

The city attorney for Portland, Maine, will draft an ordinance to regulate Uber, the online ride service that began operating in the city in October.

City officials say the service is not licensed by the city nor is it subject to its “regulations and standards that protect passenger and driver safety.” The standards include rules about vehicle inspections and insurance and background checks for drivers. The city might also use the ordinance to regulate Uber drivers’ operations at the Portland International Jetport.

Officials say the ordinance will likely be presented to the Portland City Council’s Transportation, Sustainability and Energy Committee in February. It would need final approval from the entire council if approved by the committee.

City officials say the ordinance would apply to Uber and other services that use the same model.

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