Lyft faces crackdown as it prepares to debut in Philly

The Philadelphia Parking Authority is vowing to impose fines and impound cars if the ride-share service Lyft starts operating in the city on Friday as announced.

Like its larger competitor, Uber, Lyft connects part-time drivers to riders through a smartphone app.

The PPA, which regulates taxi service in the city, considers ride-share services to be illegal taxicab operations.

"The PPA will fully enforce all existing laws prohibiting illegal hack taxi service in the city of Philadelphia," PPA executive director Vincent J. Fenerty Jr. said Tuesday after Lyft made its intenions known.

"Unlike the 1,600 licensed medallion cabs in the city, there is no guarantee that Lyft cars are clean, safe, inspected, or insured," Fenerty said. "Lyft drivers have no training and have not gone through extensive driving and criminal background checks."

"Like UberX drivers, Lyft drivers will also be fined $1,000, as well as having their cars impounded, and be required to pay all associated towing, storage, and court costs."

Chelsea Wilson, a spokeswoman for San Francisco-based Lyft, said Lyft would pay the costs of any fines or impoundments and provide "any necessary legal assistance" to drivers.

Wilson said Lyft representatives have had "multiple conversations with city officials in Philadelphia, including the PPA, about our strong commitment to safety and peer-to-peer model."

The Nutter administration, unlike the PPA, which is a state authority, has been supportive of ride-sharing services.

Mark McDonald, a spokesman for the mayor, said Nutter believes the ride-sharing companies must operate within the law, but believes Uber and Lyft are being unfairly targeted by the PPA.

Nutter wants the legislature to craft laws to permit ride-sharing in the city, so that Philadelphians can have the same services as the rest of Pennsylvania residents, McDonald said.

The state Public Utility Commission regulates taxis and limousines in all Pennsylvania counties except Philadelphia.

It has granted Lyft temporary authority to operate in most of Pennsylvania and on Thursday it certified Uber to operate for two years.

UberX - is the Uber service that uses part-time drivers in personal vehicles - has been operating in Philadelphia since October and since then the PPA has fined 29 drivers and impounded their cars.

A separate, more-expensive service, Uber Black, is an on-demand limo service and is permitted by the PPA to operate in Philadelphia.