FAYETTEVILLE -- The city prosecutor's office decided this week not to pursue charges against a former Uber driver for failing to register as a taxi company.
Jay Honeycutt racked up at least a dozen citations in February and March for operating without a taxi permit, operating without a taxi inspection decal and operating without a certificate of public convenience and necessity, according to police records.
The prosecutor's office on Wednesday dropped nine of the citations -- not because of a new Arkansas law allowing ride-hailing services to operate in the state -- but because "there was a lack of witnesses to proceed with the prosecution," Brian Thomas, assistant city prosecutor, said Thursday.
Honeycutt agreed to pay for a separate moving violation: making an illegal right turn at Garland Avenue and Maple Street.
"Everything was amicably resolved," he said.
Police wrote more than 90 tickets to Uber drivers from August 2014, when the company launched in Fayetteville, to July 22, when the new state law, Act 1050, took effect.
The law gives ride-hailing companies the ability to apply for a certificate of operation from the Arkansas Public Service Commission as long as the companies or their drivers provide proof of liability insurance, drive vehicles that pass safety inspections and only pick up passengers using a website, digital network or software application, among other requirements.
John Bethel, director of the Public Service Commission, said Thursday just one company, Rasier LLC, has received an interim permit while the commission sets its rules for "transportation network services."
The company, which is wholly owned by Uber Technologies, paid its $200 application fee and $15,000 annual permit fee the day Act 1050 took effect, according to Public Service Commission documents.
Thomas said Fayetteville officials will continue to prosecute drivers who offer rides for hire in violation of the city's taxicab ordinance.
But if drivers are operating under Raiser's certificate of operation, they likely won't be cited.
"There is no sense in issuing somebody a citation now on it," Police Sgt. Craig Stout said shortly before Act 1050 took effect.
Honeycutt, for his part, said he doesn't plan to continue as an Uber driver.
"I quit long before the law changed," he said Thursday. "I had better things to do."
NW News on 08/21/2015