Posted by Jenifer Canas-Benavides.
Uber and Lyft expanded their business enormously. Everyone by now has heard of at least one of these taxi like services. Why are they so popular? Uber offers a free ride of approximately $25 to their first time users with a special code. Lyft also offers the same promotion. So what is the biggest problem with services? The problem is the driver that picks up whoever requested the ride. I used Uber before, and in the back of my mind, I wondered if my driver was a safe driver or if they had no bad driving records. I’m sure many people think the same thing. That is why Governor Charlie Baker has proposed new rules for the riding services.
In the article, Governor Baker proposed a law that requires that the company make two background checks on their drivers. Massachusetts’s regulators would regulate these rules. Anyone who fails the checks would not be allowed to work for these riding services companies. Massachusetts has already seen some charges made my women who said their Uber driver assaulted them. However, the proposal does not specifically state what can disqualify a person from working for the company.
Other rules are that the cars being used will need an annual inspection to insure a safer trip. In order for this law to go in place, there needs to be some money that will need to pay for insurance, inspections, and other duties. Which are why, the taxes paid by the company will be used to offset those expenses. This proposal is still being reviewed. If passed, it would take about 6 months for the Massachusetts DPU to start making the regulations.
Jenifer is a business administration student at Montclair State University, Class of 2017.