Ocean City officials are preparing for a possible expansion of ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft in the resort town.
The Daily Times reports Uber started advertising last month to recruit drivers in Ocean City. But representatives for Uber and Lyft say neither firm has set plans to launch in Ocean City. An Uber spokeswoman says the company uses advertising to test a market's viability.
Uber doesn't operate in Ocean City, but city Solicitor Guy Ayres said officials have been considering how they would regulate the company there.
He said a law that let Uber drivers operate "without going through the same regulations and inspections and licensing fees and medallion costs" would put the city's taxi drivers at a disadvantage.
"The concern is that they be on a level playing field with the other similar-type vehicles that operate here and are regulated by the town," Ayres said.
Ocean City has a medallion system for approved drivers. They are subject to vehicle inspections and drug tests.
Taxi companies aren't happy about the possibility of Uber moving in. Carl Kufchak, who owns Ocean City Taxi, says Uber only offers unscreened drivers.
Baltimore Sun reporter Kevin Rector and the Associated Press contributed to this story.