Uber disables app in Nevada after judge issues preliminary injuction

RENO, Nev., Nov. 28 (UPI) -- The services of mobile ride-sharing app Uber are no longer available in Nevada. The company disabled their mobile application late Wednesday night for the Silver State after a judge there issued a preliminary injunction.

"It's unfortunate that Nevada is the first state in the nation to temporarily suspend Uber," Uber spokeswoman Eva Behrend wrote in a statement. "That means nearly 1,000 jobs just disappeared overnight and those residents lost their ability to earn a living. On the eve of Thanksgiving, when Nevadans should be celebrating with family, now many are worried about how they're going to pay their bills."

Nevada's attorney general filed a suit against Uber not long after the company began operations in the state this autumn. The state argues Uber is evading safety standards and infringing upon the franchise rights of traditional taxi companies that operate under Nevada's strict common carrier regulations. Under Nevada rules, cab drivers must pass a series of tests and have their vehicles inspected.

After Washoe District Judge Scott Freeman agreed to the state's request for a preliminary injunction, while both parties prepare to go to trial. That decision was appealed, but the Nevada Supreme Court declined to overrule Freeman's decision.

Uber has promised to find a way forward and resume operations in the state as soon as legally possible.

"We remain committed to working with Nevada's leaders to create a permanent regulatory framework that affords Nevadans the flexibility and innovation offered by Uber," Behrend said.