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Uber Safety Concerns

February 23rd, 2016 by flanews

A horrific string of shootings in Michigan this past weekend by an uber driver could have some impact here. As Matt Galka tells us, some are telling lawmakers to take note as they try and craft statewide legislation for the ride sharing service.

If you call an Uber…you trust that the person picking you up will get you to where you’re going safely.  A killing spree in Michigan over the weekend by an Uber driver who allegedly picked people up in between shootings has some people calling for tougher background checks.

Taxi company lobbyist Ron Book has been calling for the legislature to level the playing field between Uber and Cab drivers.

“I think the Michigan shooting just simply puts more exclamation points behind you have to have real background checks. And some notion that that created an employer employee relationship is hogwash,” said Book.

Minimum insurance requirements are driving Uber bills currently moving through the Capitol with minimal emphasis on driver background checks.

The House’s version of the bill already passed the chamber, but some lawmakers tried to amend it to include fingerprint level background checks. The amendment failed.

Senator David Simmons sponsors an Uber bill in his chamber. He says the shooting emphasizes that protections are needed.

“It’s very important to us to assure that there’s insurance protection, obviously, and to make sure that there is protection for riders and their safety from the drivers,” said Sen. Simmons.

Simmons bill currently doesn’t overrule local regulations placed on Uber – that means a local government could require a stronger level of background checks.  The House’s verison preempts local rules and creates uniform regulations statewide.

Some, but not all, cab companies around the state require fingerprinting for background checks. Uber currently runs name checks. The Michigan shooter had cleared Uber’s current background check system.

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