The D.C. Attorney General’s Office has announced its intention to enforce local regulations by seeking to halt Empower from dispatching for-hire rides in the city until the company registers and complies with District rules.
According to an NBC4 Washington report, a lawsuit has been filed against the rideshare app Empower. The report featured a rider who claimed she was sexually assaulted during a recent trip arranged through the service. NBC4 highlighted that Empower markets itself as a cost-effective alternative to Uber and Lyft. The lawsuit alleges unsafe practices by drivers and questions how the company vets and oversees them.
D.C.’s Department of For-Hire Vehicles (DFHV) states that Empower is not registered and is unauthorized to operate as a rideshare provider in the District. DFHV warns that driving for Empower could lead to enforcement actions, including vehicle impoundment, and advises the public against using the app due to potentially serious consequences. The department emphasizes that digital dispatch services must register with them before dispatching any for-hire vehicles in the District…