Rideshare companies, like UberX and Lyft, offer a popular alternative to traditional taxi service by using a smartphone app to connect available drivers with passengers. The service is touted for its affordability and convenience, as well as environmentally friendly mission to reduce the number of vehicles on the road.
Recently, however, rideshare companies have become a topic of significant debate in the media and legal community. The controversy stems from the fact that most of the drivers are not commercially licensed and lack some of the legal safeguards imposed upon standard taxi companies.
For instance, taxi drivers and other individuals who offer transportation-for-hire services are subject to state regulations, including the requirement that they have a commercial driver's license. Rideshare drivers who operate without a commercial license may be fined by the state. However, these fines are typically paid by the rideshare companies on behalf of the drivers.
An additional concern associated with the rideshare trend is safety, specifically the lack of pre-employment drug testing and background checks. While some companies voluntarily conduct pre-employment screening, opponents argue that the checks are insufficient and fall below the standards applicable to licensed transportation companies.
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