Showdown for Uber in Nevada expected in Carson City

It will be a showdown between Uber enthusiasts and taxi drivers Monday in Carson City as a Senate committee considers a bill to allow the ride-sharing company to operate in Nevada.

Senate Bill 439 would set guidelines for smartphone applications that would be used for transportation services, including transportation network companies. Companies would be required to register for an annual permit with the Public Utilities Commission and provide the name, age and address of its drivers, a copy of a driver’s license, a record of the driving history of the applicant and a description of the vehicle. Drivers also would be subject to criminal background checks.

Taxicab and limousine drivers plan to demonstrate Monday in Carson City and Las Vegas to oppose the bill allowing Uber into the Nevada market. They say it will jeopardize full-time jobs with benefits and compromise public safety.

Uber executives and supporters plan to hold their own rally in Carson City.

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Labor and Energy is scheduled to hear the bill at 8:30 a.m. Monday.

Contact Sandra Chereb at schereb@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901. Find her on Twitter: @SandraChereb