Portland Wants Uber Shut Down Shortly After It Begins Operating In City

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - The city of Portland has asked a judge to shut down the online taxi business Uber, which began operations in the city on Friday.

The San Francisco company has run up against taxi regulations in many other cities, where sometimes its operations have been accommodated.

Uber says it isn't bound by rules governing traditional taxi companies. Uber's drivers are independent contractors. The company takes a cut of fares.

In Oregon, Uber began operating in Salem and Eugene last summer and in Portland suburbs this fall.

When it launched in Portland last week, City Commissioner Steve Novick threatened to "throw the book" at the company for violating the rides-for-hire regulations.

Code enforcers, though, said they weren't immediately able to book rides and penalize drivers.

The suit was filed Monday.

Uber