Maryland People’s Counsel raises Uber, Lyft concerns

Maryland’s state consumer watchdog is the latest to raise legal concerns about ridesharing companies Uber and Lyft.
In letters to the Public Service Commission, Maryland People’s Counsel Paula Carmody asked for investigations into Lyft and Uber’s UberX service, believing riders may not be aware that state law requires drivers to have a commercial driver’s license and commercial insurance, the Baltimore Sun reports.
In June, Uber appealed a PSC law judge’s ruling that declared Uber a common carrier subject to regulation. Uber’s UberBlack and SUV drivers already register with the PSC, but UberX drivers (who typically drive small personal vehicles) do not. An Uber spokesman told the Sun that the PSC’s ruling, if allowed to stand, would force the lower-cost UberX out of Maryland.
Both Uber and Lyft spokesmen said both carriers cover independent drivers with insurance policies.
In July, Annapolis officials asked Uber to put the brakes on its recently-launched Annapolis service until the firm had registered as a cab company.