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Will Uber Stay in Pennsylvania?

WILKES-BARRE — There could soon be a swift decline in the use of Uber and other ride-sharing services. That’s because the companies that have been a...
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WILKES-BARRE -- There could soon be a swift decline in the use of Uber and other ride-sharing services. That's because the companies that have been allowed to operate in Pennsylvania on an experimental certificate, which expires soon.

If the certificate expires in January with no action from legislators in Harrisburg, ride-sharing services would be illegal and drivers would be out of a job.

Ride-sharing services like Uber, have grown in popularity over the past few years.

Essentially the services allow anyone with a newer model car to become a less expensive taxi, one you can hail down through an app on your phone.

State legislation need to be passed soon, in order to make ride-sharing services permanently legal in the commonwealth. If not, people like Leo Weng will be out of a job.

"By about three o'clock I make about 10 customers," said Weng.

Weng uses his car to drive for Uber. The job is his second to help make ends meet for his family.

Not only would he hurt, if the legislators let a temporary certificate for ride-sharing lapse, but his customers won't be too happy either.

"Not a good thing, a lot of people complain," added Weng.

"I think it's going to be definitely less convenient, for everyone. I know everyone uses them," said Tony Tolerico, who uses Uber in Wilkes-Barre.

Senate bill 984 has been drafted to potentially make ride-sharing services permanent in Pennsylvania.

The bill could be discussed next week in Harrisburg, but if it doesn't work it's way through the legislature by January it could be back to the old days of getting a taxi the traditional way.

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