City Cast DC This Ride Share App Keeps Pissing Off DC
Oct 21, 2025
Martin Austermuhle, a reporter for The 51st, illuminates the tumultuous saga of the Empower rideshare app, which is at odds with D.C. regulators. He discusses how Empower's subscription model allows drivers to keep all their earnings while sidestepping traditional insurance and background checks. Delving into the legal battles, Martin reveals staggering fines and the uncertain future of the app. He also addresses the complex dance between low-cost services and consumer safety, highlighting the passionate support from drivers and the volatile regulatory landscape.
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Tech-Provider Claim Masks A Transport Business
- Empower presents itself as a software provider that merely connects drivers and riders to avoid transportation regulations.
- That structure lowers costs but creates a regulatory clash with the District over who is responsible for rides.
Insurance And Vetting Are Central Issues
- DC requires commercial ride insurance and vetting for app-based services, which Empower does not enforce reliably.
- That gap risks leaving injured riders without proper insurance coverage after accidents.
CEO Nearly Faced Jail Over Contempt Ruling
- A judge found Empower noncompliant and threatened contempt, ordering them to stop operating in D.C.
- The CEO faced possible jail time before the judge stayed the ruling pending appeal.
