The Madison Police Department cited two drivers in a sting operation for violating Madison’s taxi-service ordinances last week, according to Ald. Scott Resnick, District 8.
Resnick said one Lyft driver and one Uber driver received several citations related to illegal taxicab services and were fined during the operation. Lyft and Uber are two companies that provide transportation services that do not follow the same regulations as taxicab companies.
The city attorney determined the companies are “operating illegally as taxis and need to comply with city ordinances,” according to a MPD incident report.
A police officer in plain clothes cited an Uber driver Friday morning for charging him $14.35 for a ride from Odana Road to North Lake Street, according to the report.
A second officer in plain clothes cited a Lyft driver for charging him $17 for a ride from the 2400 block of University Avenue to the Dane County Regional Airport Saturday evening.
This operation comes at a time when city officials are debating how to regulate rideshare services, such as Uber and Lyft.
“I am still working on legislation that would regulate the transit network companies … it would provide a framework for Uber and Lyft to legally operate in Madison,” Resnick said.
