The Latest: Colorado Fines Uber $8.9m For Problem Drivers

DENVER (AP) — The Latest on a $8.9 million fine issued by Colorado regulators against Uber's parent company (all times local): 1:55 p.m. Colorado has fined Uber's parent company $8.9 million for allowing employees with serious criminal or motor vehicle offenses to work for the company. The Colorado Public Utilities Commission said Monday that it found that nearly 60 Uber drivers were allowed to work in the state despite previous felony convictions. The drivers included a former prison escape and people with major traffic violations or problems with their driver's licenses. Uber in a statement says it recently discovered a "process error" that was inconsistent with Colorado's ridesharing regulations and affected what the company called a small number of drivers. The company says it notified the state and fixed the problem. Regulators say they launched an investigation this year after an Uber driver was accused of assaulting a passenger in Vail. The regulators say they found felony convictions for drivers that Uber's background checks did not discover. Uber's fine will be cut in half if it pays the penalty within 10 days. ____ This version corrects that the state investigation began this year, not last year. _____ 12:40 p.m. Colorado regulators have issued an $8.9 million fine against Uber's parent company for allowing employees with serious criminal or motor vehicle offenses to work for the company. The Colorado Public Utilities Commission said Monday that it launched an investigation into the ride-hailing service last year after an Uber driver was accused of assaulting a passenger in Vail. Within the last year and a half, the commission says it found that nearly 60 Uber drivers were allowed to work in Colorado despite having previous felony convictions, including a former prison escapee, major traffic violations or problems with their driver's licenses. Last week, two women who said they were sexually assaulted by Uber drivers filed federal lawsuits in San Francisco faulting the company's background checks. Uber didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.Read more on NewsOK.com