Judge Denies Request for Restraining Order Against Uber in Las Vegas

Popular but controversial ride-sharing app Uber received a minor breakthrough in Nevada on Wednesday when a Clark County judge ruled that the company would be able to continue operating in the Las Vegas area.

The state’s Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto had requested a temporary restraining order on Uber that would prevent its vehicles from picking up passengers in the U.S. gambling hub, but this was denied by District Court Judge Douglas Herndon, reports the Reno Gazette-Journal.

But the service is not yet legal in Nevada, and the denial of the restraining order is only a short-term reprieve.

Temporary restraining orders have been granted by authorities in Carson City and Washoe County, with further hearings scheduled for Nov. 6 and Nov. 12 respectively. However, Uber spokesperson Eva Behrend told the Gazette-Journal that the ride-sharing service is currently active in Reno, Carson City, Sparks and the Las Vegas area. The company is also attempting to drum up support through an online petition that has so far received over 15,000 signatures.

Uber, which currently operates in more than 100 cities across 45 countries, launched its app in Nevada on Friday but immediately encountered opposition from state authorities.