Disputes concerning the car taxi service Uber are springing up all over the country and the latest involves St. Louis UberX drivers and the St. Louis Metropolitan Taxicab Commission. The lawsuits each has filed against the other are headed to mediation, which is standard practice for civil suits of this kind. Attorneys for both sides will continue to argue the case, but there will be an ongoing attempt to mediate the dispute.

The dispute began in September 2015, when the taxi commission voted to allow UberX to operate in the city, but decided that drivers must be fingerprinted as part of a criminal background check to operate. Drivers must also pass class E Missouri driving tests, which means essentially getting their chauffeur’s license. Uber was not happy with the requirements, stating they conduct their own background checks, and since some drivers work less than six hours per week, it is unnecessary to have a more invasive and expensive check performed. The company launched UberX in response in St. Louis, without those drivers having undergone the necessary steps to operate lawfully and called the requirements anti-competitive.

St. Louis is not the first city in which there are problems with Uber. Taxi cab commissions across the United States are bothered by Uber because of the company’s effect on their business. Uber offers rides given by private vehicle owners that are contacted by those in need through an app on their phone. In many instances, Uber costs less than a traditional taxi ride and taxi drivers are concerned the option will eventually put them out of business altogether.