Cabbies say services like Uber and Lyft – which let people use smartphone apps to book and pay for a private auto service – have dramatically cut into their ability to earn a living.
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Uber said Monday it plans to expand its wheelchair-accessible vehicle service in Portland, in part by allowing owners of such vehicles to register as Uber drivers.
It wasn’t immediately clear when the company will be on the road in Nevada.
The Joint Committee on Financial Services planned a public hearing today on legislation to regulate the so-called “transportation network companies”, including a bill filed by Gov. Charlie Baker and another by Rep. Michael Moran and Sen. She said the company was in ongoing discussions with the county about the proposed ordinance. Commissioner Keith Sakelhide tried in vain to get representatives of both companies to voluntarily adopt fingerprint background checks verified by law-enforcement agencies as a good business practice and to conduct pre-employment or post-accident drug testing on drivers.
Clark County business licensing officials said companies could apply to start operating there after the county ordinance is finalized, likely in October.
Clark County spokesman Dan Kulin did not have fast remark Monday on the talks with ride-hailing corporations.
Uber briefly operated in Nevada last fall, but a judge ultimately ordered it to stop because it wasn’t abiding by the laws governing taxis and limos. Amongst different issues, the laws that have been adopted Friday name for an administrative charge to fund regulators and enforcement employees, and require a decal on automobiles working for ride-hailing corporations.
Lawmakers handed two hard-fought payments this spring that approved the businesses to function within the state and imposed a three % fare tax for taxi and ride-hailing corporations.
The Nevada Transportation Authority then drafted detailed rules specific to ride-hailing companies.
After Lyft’s approval, board members spent another 1½ hours reviewing the Uber application.
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Ride-hailing companies instead have a “zero-tolerance” drug and alcohol policy and say they suspend drivers in real-time when a passenger reports a driver who might be under the influence.
