Lyft Car-Sharing Service Plans Minneapolis Launch

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A controversial car-sharing service is moving ahead with its Twin Cities launch, though some say that it potentially defies local rules.

Lyft has people use their own vehicles to pick up passengers who request a ride through a smartphone app.

The service is already operating in more than 20 cities, including St. Paul, but the city of Minneapolis says Lyft is technically a taxi service and cannot operate without a taxi license.

The company has said they plan to go ahead nonetheless and initiate service in Minneapolis on Thursday.

The city reportedly does have the right to issue tickets to Lyft drivers and to impound their vehicles.