WATERLOO REGION — Regional officials are holding back judgment on transportation app Uber after meeting with a representative from the company Wednesday in Kitchener.

"We're not taking any form of action at this time because there's nothing to take action on," said Angelo Apfelbaum, manager of licensing and enforcement. "We're going to monitor the situation and (we're) not sure if we'll hear back from them or not."

The Region of Waterloo licences the local taxi and limousine industries. Only they can give licences and take them away. Uber would have to follow local licensing laws to operate here, officials say.

There are a fixed number of taxi licences and all of them have been spoken for.

That didn't stop the company from gauging interest from potential local drivers Tuesday in Kitchener.

Xavier Van Chau, communications lead for Uber, said in an email there was a good response, but plans to launch here are not confirmed. He could not offer a time frame for a decision.

"While I don't have specific numbers, what I can say is that interest in the partner registration drive was high and we are pleased with participation," he said.

"We are meeting with elected and licensing officials … and look forward to working with them collaboratively to increase transportation alternatives and consumer choice."

One of the region's main concerns is safety.

There have been six taxi drivers before the courts on sex charges in two years in the local taxi industry. Apfelbaum has said if that can happen with drivers the region regulates, he worries what will happen if Uber drivers aren't regulated.

Regional Chair Ken Seiling and Coun. Geoff Lorentz also met with Uber on Wednesday.

Seiling said his biggest concern is also safety.

"We'll just see where it goes from here and I don't know where it goes from here," he said.

Lorentz said he thinks the province needs to step in and review Uber because the government regulates municipalities and wouldn't let them waive licensing rules.

"They're not licensed to operate in the region and that's just the way it is," Lorentz said.

While Uber's taxi and limousine service definitely break local licensing law, Apfelbaum said he's uncertain how its ride-booking service would be dealt with.

UberX allows anyone to offer rides-for-hire in their personal vehicle and allows people to book, track and pay for a ride with their smartphone.

There have been a few calls to the regional licensing office asking that Uber be allowed to operate here.

Apfelbaum said until the region knows what Uber has planned, he can't be certain how the region would respond. His expectation is that Uber will return to speak to officials before starting up operations here.

"We've heard them out, it was at their request and that's it," he said.

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