Legislation Requiring Stricter Monitoring of California Ride-Sharing Drivers Advances

July 14, 2015 | Legislation sponsored by California Assembly Member Jim Cooper (D - Elk Grove) requiring stricter oversight of ri...



July 14, 2015 |

Legislation sponsored by California Assembly Member Jim Cooper (D - Elk Grove) requiring stricter oversight of ride-sharing drivers was unanimously approved today by the California Senate Transportation and Housing Committee.

Assembly Bill 1422 would require companies like Uber, Lyft and Sidecar to enroll in the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Employer Pull Notice Program. The pull notice program notifies employers when an enrolled participant is involved in an accident, convicted of a driving under the influence (DUI) or any other actions taken against their driving privileges.

Currently, the Pull Notice program is limited to public agencies and employers such as taxi companies. This leaves out ride-sharing companies because drivers utilizing these platforms are independent contractors. Currently, ride-sharing companies manually access DMV records on a quarterly basis to review driving records – a process that is both inefficient and slow to catch such things as DUIs, accidents or license suspensions.

“The DMV Pull Notice program helps businesses and government agencies ensure that unsafe drivers are taken off the road quickly," Cooper said. "AB 1422 would improve safety on our roads, particularly for passengers utilizing Uber and other similar transportation services." 

The bill is supported by the largest ride-sharing company, Uber. The bill will be heard next in the Senate Appropriations Committee. 



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