Reporters and debate-goers arriving in Las Vegas today were…displeased, to say the least…by the hour-long taxi lines that greeted them and lack of Uber service at the airport:
@bennyjohnson @Uber Yes- its horrible. perhaps @mayoroflasvegas can do something about it?
— Lois Romano (@loisromano) October 12, 2015
Been zig-zagging in this line for +30 minutes waiting for the distinct privilege of riding in a vegas taxi. Cc @Uber pic.twitter.com/Ve74VwDvhN
— Benny (@bennyjohnson) October 12, 2015
Frustrated travelers may be interested to know that Harry Reid protégé and Democratic senate candidate Catherine Cortez Masto actively fought against Uber operating in the state, filing for a temporary restraining order against the company last year.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported in October 2014:
According to Campbell, around 8 a.m. Friday, state Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto’s office was given notice that Las Vegas-based Campbell & Williams was representing Uber.
Shortly afterward, Uber representatives participated in a 45-minute telephone conversation with Cortez Masto.
“She never said she was going to court,” Campbell said.
After that call, the attorney general filed a temporary restraining order in Carson City on behalf of the Nevada State Transportation Authority, he said. The authority regulates the taxi industry in the state.
“We were given no opportunity to be heard despite the fact that the attorney general knew I was representing Uber and no notice was given,” Campbell said. “It is a requirement to give such notice and the Supreme Court declared an issue to be void if no notice is given.”
According to the Nevada rules of civil procedure, “no preliminary injunction shall be issued without notice to the adverse party.”