Uber Slapped With Hefty Fine By Pa. Regulators
HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) —Uber has been hit with the largest fine ever levied by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.
The PUC has slapped Uber with an $11.4 million fine for operating without state approval.
Commission spokeswoman Robin Tilley says the fine covers six months in 2014.
"They were required to apply for and receive a Certificate of Public Convenience before operating. So they operated before doing that and continued to operate even after the Commission issued a cease-and-desist order against them."
The record fine was for Uber operations outside of Philadelphia. Inside the city, where ride-sharing companies are regulated by the Philadelphia Parking Authority, Uber does not have approval.
Uber plans to appeal the PUC fine to Commonwealth Court.
The record fine is less than the $50 million penalty recommended by an administrative law panel.
Commissioners said the fine was reduced because Uber has modified its operations to comply with PUC conditions, and there have been no problems since July of 2014 when Uber was granted "experimental" authority to operate.
