Rhode Island Uber and Lyft drivers may soon be required to pass a criminal background check before they start accepting passengers. State Attorney General Peter Kilmartin proposed a bill that would require traditional taxi drivers and drivers of ride-hailing apps to get fingerprinted before working in the Ocean State.
Rhode Island legalized the ride-hailing apps last year, but fingerprinting was dropped after the requirement faced opposition from Uber.
Julia Giorgio manages Economy Cab Company, a traditional taxi service in Johnston. She says the legislation won’t affect her too much. She already requires her drivers to go through state background checks.
Giorgio says she thinks it’s a good idea for all parties involved.
“Well I think it’s safe for our customers to know who’s picking them up and it’s also safe for the company’s liability to know who you have driving for you,” said Giorgio.
An Uber spokesperson says the proposal would place an unnecessary strain on Rhode Island drivers. The ride-hailing company reports roughly 50 percent of Uber drivers in the Ocean State do it for 10 hours a week or less.
Uber argues the safety benefits of fingerprinting drivers are not worth the time-consuming process.
Massachusetts began running rigorous background checks on Uber and Lyft drivers this year. Connecticut is another state considering legislation that would fingerprint drivers.
