Ride-hailing company Uber supports letting New Jersey’s attorney general decide what type of background checks its drivers should use rather than lawmakers, but says it still plans to leave the state if fingerprinting is required.
Advertisement
Many former Uber and Lyft drivers have since joined start-up, ride-hailing firms now operating in the city. A competing measure in the state Assembly would require fingerprint checks if the ride-sharing companies don’t use a check approved by the New Jersey state police.
The mayor would prefer not to adopt any new regulations on the ride-hailing industry, so his administration proposed eliminating the requirement that anyone applying for a public chauffeur license get an up-front drug test and physical exam. The legislative session concludes on Beacon Hill at the end of the month. Jamie Eldridge, Eric Lesser, William Brownsberger and Linda Dorcena Forry. Critics said the companies already carry out background checks and that the extra requirements would discourage or unfairly bar many from becoming drivers.
A special task force has been working for months on the Senate bill, since the House of Representatives passed its own legislation.
Uber and Lyft spent more than $9 million in their failed attempt to defeat fingerprint requirements in Austin’s May 7 vote, making it the most expensive political campaign in the city’s history.
The Senate bill does not address the idea of protection zones for taxis, meaning Uber and Lyft could continue to operate at the BCEC and Massport would retain control of the airport.
Alderman Anthony Beale’s original proposal would have required drivers to be fingerprinted as part of a criminal background check, just like traditional taxi drivers.
The Senate bill, like the House’s, opted against requiring fingerprinting of drivers, which has jeopardized the continued operation of Uber in some states.
Ride-hail companies would also be required to add a tipping function to their apps.
There are also broad areas of agreement between the House and Senate, according to the Senate source.
Advertisement
Edwards said he is pleased with the compromise, especially a provision that makes clear that “if you get into one of these cars, you’re going to have insurance”.
