A company called Empower is trying to take on Uber, Lyft and local regulators as it piles up fines and draws new passengers to its service.According to a recent report from The New York Times, outside Union Station’s train hall in Washington, a variety of transportation options were available for passengers, including taxicabs, Ubers, and Lyfts. However, there was also another type of vehicle present – an unmarked sedan dropping off a passenger. This vehicle belonged to Empower, a ride-hailing start-up that has become a serious competitor to Uber and Lyft in the city.
Despite its popularity, Empower has not registered with the city’s Department of For-Hire Vehicles, making its operations illegal. While the company’s cheap prices have attracted both drivers and riders, its rapid growth has also brought legal troubles. The head of the department, Jonathan Rogers, and Brianne Nadeau, a member of the District of Columbia Council, are now pushing to shut down Empower.
The start-up has accumulated over $100 million in unpaid fines and is currently under investigation by the Council. It has also been sued by the District of Columbia attorney general’s office, and a Superior Court judge has ordered it to cease operations. To some regulators, Empower’s tactics are reminiscent of Uber’s arrival in Washington a decade ago, when it disrupted the transit market and overtook traditional taxi companies.
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