Maryland Moves Toward Legalizing Uber

• March 6, 2015

by Lark Turner

Uber is moving closer to being legal in Maryland just weeks after the Virginia state legislature took a similar step.

The ride-hailing service’s higher-end services, which offer transport from professional drivers in luxury sedans and SUVs, are already subject to regulation in Maryland after Uber came to an agreement with the state last month.

Now some elected officials are looking to regulate Uber X, the company’s budget transit option which operates out of everyday cars. A bill introduced last week would allow Uber X to register as a “transportation network operator” while subjecting it to certain requirements, including that drivers be subject to background checks, carry insurance and follow certain safety procedures.

One of the co-sponsors of the bill, Del. C. William Frick (D-Montgomery), told The Washington Post that he uses the service, and other state residents should be able to, as well.

“The priority will be preserving a very popular service. Maybe we do need to develop some different regulations, but that doesn’t seem to be an imminent concern,” Frick told the paper. “I am an Uber user. It is a good service, people like it, it’s filling a hole and the fact that it’s not consistent with how things have been done before doesn’t mean that it should be ­prohibited.”

This article originally published at http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/maryland_moves_toward_legalizing_uber/9614