Posted Tuesday, January 3, 2017 7:00 pm

Donna Marks would love it if more people signed up to drive for Uber. Right now, she’s the only Uber driver whom she knows of on the Quimper Peninsula.

A longtime poker player, poker room manager and dealer, Marks started driving for Uber recently because she wants to go into business for herself, enjoys people and enjoys driving.

“And they didn’t have it on the Olympic Peninsula,” she said of the service, which has gained popularity around the world, in urban areas in particular.

Marks, who lives in Port Hadlock, drove to Las Vegas to buy a car specifically to be an Uber driver. It’s a PT Cruiser, which she has decorated with flower-power flowers and a peace sign. Inside, she keeps bottles of water for customers in the summer and a supply of hard candies.

Although business in the summer was good, with tourists coming and going to the ferry terminal, it’s been slow going this winter.

MORE NEEDED

And since Marks isn’t so keen on driving at night, she would love to see more people step up to drive.

“Anyone can drive, whether you’re a doctor, teacher, carpenter, etc., because it’s part-time and you work when you want,” she said. “And the faster the word gets out, the more business there will be for everyone.”

“I would love to refer drivers,” she said. Although potential drivers can go directly to Uber to sign up, if she refers them, both she and they would get a $100 bonus after 40 rides. To connect with her about becoming a driver, people can email her at

pokerdonna@aol.com.

Marks said her husband became an Uber driver as well, but he’s not so keen on driving at night either, so he hasn’t been helping.

Since starting a few months ago, she’s acquired a few regular customers from Port Townsend and Port Ludlow.

“I’ve taken people to the Bainbridge ferry and the casinos and to Seattle. I took one girl shopping,” she said. “I had a couple who wanted to go out to dinner and I waited for them. I had another woman whose car was in the shop.”

She’s worked the Wooden Boat Festival and she’s worked during the Centrum Jazz Festival and delivered passengers to a whale-watching excursion.

One of her favorite trips was taking two young women from Spain to Port Angeles. She enjoys longer trips because the longer the trip, the more money one can make.

“It’s a great job, my favorite job so far. I can do whatever I want whenever I want. It’s freedom,” she said. “I went on a cruise for 12 days and I was gone,” she said of being able to take time off when she wants to.

Because Uber cars need to be no more than 10 years old, she said she’ll need to invest in a new car within the next few years if she continues to drive for Uber. All cars must be inspected by Uber. Hers has been inspected.

PERMIT OR NOT?

Marks said she doesn’t think she needs a permit to operate in Jefferson County, that Uber takes care of those kinds of things.

“We’re not taxis. It’s your own car,” she said.

Peninsula Taxi came under scrutiny by the City of Port Townsend last summer and was told to get licensed and have its cars inspected and its drivers licensed. Otherwise, it would face penalties and not be allowed to operate in the city.

Nora Mitchell, director of finance and administrative services for the City of Port Townsend, said Peninsula Taxi is complying with all city regulations.

Marks does all of her business on a smartphone, which is required in order to use Uber. Both drivers and customers need to use the Uber app on a smartphone to connect with one another.

While customers can chat with Uber online, drivers typically have to wait to hear back from Uber headquarters, she said.

And there’s no quibbling about price and no cash transactions are accepted. Everything is done online.

Asked for a price to go from downtown Port Townsend to Port Ludlow, Marks tapped her cell phone and looked it up – $39.03. Uber customers don’t have to tip, but she gets them occasionally, she said.

Marks noted that she had to pass a background check to drive for Uber, and even Uber customers get checked out before being accepted.

“It’s fun and I really enjoy it,” she said of being an Uber driver.