Uber is here — but where is it going?

This is the way Uber is supposed to work in Westchester County: You can use the popular car service only if your trip begins or ends in New York City.

This is how Uber really works in Westchester: You can take a ride within the county even though the company isn't licensed to do that here.

App-based ride-sharing services Uber and Lyft, whose drivers are independent contractors using their own cars, have made significant inroads in New York City (Uber provides more than 100,000 rides a day in the five boroughs). Now the company is expanding into this region — officially and unofficially — bringing with it fresh challenges and new opportunities.

"As with any for-hire service operating in Westchester, Uber is issued summonses for non-compliance with the county’s for-hire vehicle law," Barbara Monohan, chief executive officer of the Westchester County Taxi and Limousine Commission, said in a statement.

This year, Westchester has issued roughly 1,000 tickets to Uber drivers, a county spokesman said. Officials did not provide information about how much the fines were or how much has been collected. The Journal News has filed a Freedom of Information Law request for those details.

Monohan said the county is working with Uber and "will continue to ensure safe and quality for-hire services to the riding public."

The Westchester TLC only regulates vehicles that can be pre-ordered, such as limousines or livery vehicles. On the other hand, municipalities in the region, such as the city of White Plains or the village of Nyack, oversee taxis that operate in their communities. Taxis, unlike for-hire vehicles such as Uber, can be flagged down on the street in some communities and carry a higher insurance risk.

How it works

Larchmont resident Brian Hegt hasn’t taken a cab since he learned Uber was active in Westchester. It isn’t easy getting a taxi out of downtown White Plains when the after-dinner crowd disperses, he said. Before Uber, with no option to hail a cab in suburbia, the only choice was to phone for one and hope it showed up.

"This cab company says 45 minutes, and then you call another and it says an hour, then you call back the first one," said Hegt, 26, who works for the Westchester Board of Legislators. "Once I learned about Uber and learned that they did serve Westchester, there’s almost no reason to (call a cab)."

Uber users request a ride through an app using GPS which allows them to choose available vehicles in the area. A photo and user rating for particular drivers is noted and the cars available range from regular post-2000 vehicles to six-passenger XLs and Uber Black, the luxury option in line with traditional livery services.

Prices vary based on traffic, time of day and other factors. On a recent weekday morning, the cost of a ride from White Plains to Yonkers ranged from $41 to $55. The Uber driver doesn't know the end destination until the rider is in the car and the driver has started a trip on the app.

So, how is Uber providing rides within the county without the proper permits? The answer is murky.

In order to provide point-to-point rides in Westchester, ride-sharing companies need to get a license from the county, said Dan Branda, assistant to Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino. He wouldn't say how Uber continues to operate within the county without the proper approval.

As for the company itself, Uber acknowledges it's operating in Westchester more than just to and from the city, but said the larger issue needs to be addressed at the state level.

“Currently, there are inconsistent regulations across the state and we hope to work with regulators on an approach that allows all New Yorkers to use the platform to earn a good living,” said Uber spokeswoman Alix Anfang. “There is no question that all Uber rides are safe — all driver-partners must undergo a stringent background check, and the app ensures accountability and transparency.”

Anfang said with the demand for its service, Uber has “the potential to bring huge economic benefits and job growth to Westchester and surrounding areas.”

Lyft’s New York City coverage extends to Yonkers and New Rochelle with no plans to expand further north.

Growing options

There are about 2,700 for-hire vehicles working in Westchester and regulated by the county’s TLC. They pay fees that ride-sharing companies don’t, including $135 for annual driver permits, $300 for yearly vehicle permits and a $600 annual base-station permit.

Meanwhile, individual municipalities in Westchester and Rockland oversee taxis and impose their own licensing fees. Rockland is considering creating its own TLC, although legislation has yet to be proposed and may face opposition from local towns and villages.

“Our idea is to protect the public from unsafe, under-insured and uninsured drivers of for-hire vehicles,” said Stephen Powers, director of public policy and intergovernmental relations for Rockland County Executive Ed Day.

Powers said the proposal wasn’t Uber-specific but would affect ride-sharing services.

“If Uber grows here, then the law will be in place and we’ll be ready for that,” he said. “This law has an eye on the future.”

State Sen. James Seward, who represents a district between Albany and Syracuse, has introduced a bill that would change current insurance law to allow digital ride-sharing companies to secure group insurance for their drivers. The bill remains with the Senate’s Insurance Committee, of which Seward is the chairman.

In New York City, Uber has been controversial — with taxi owners protesting that the company doesn’t play by the same licensing and regulation rules.

Raphael Ziegler, president of the Rockland County Taxi and Livery Coalition, said he doesn’t see Uber or Lyft as a threat to local companies. The demand for rides isn’t as great in the suburbs, the cost of licensing isn't as expensive and wait times aren’t measured by the same standard as crowded Manhattan.

“In the city, everybody wants everything now,” said Ziegler, who owns Emunah Transportation in Monsey. “Here, it’s not like that.”

Jackie Rubbo, co-owner of Yonkers Brewing Co., said she likes Uber because she knows how much a ride will cost and how long she’ll wait for her car to arrive. Best of all, she doesn’t have to fish around in her purse for money since her credit card information is already stored in the app.

“It’s a convenient, easy service to use that takes away the exchange of cash,” Rubbo said. “It’s always the first option.”

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