Dade Commissioner Seeks Restrictions On Ride Sharing Services

Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter

MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Citing public safety, Miami-Dade County Commission Chairman Jean Monestime plans to introduce tougher measures on ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft.

"Under our current code, these for hire network transportation entities are operating illegally," said Monestime.

He is set to introduce the measures to the commission later this month.

Among the items Monestime would like them to consider at their January 20th meeting would be an ordinance that would require the county to do background checks on their drivers.

Uber claims Monestime's plans are too restrictive.

"It is an attempt to be hostile. It is putting regulatory and bureaucratic hurdles in place to make it impossible for the drivers to continue to earn the income and provide their services to tens of thousands of people who depend on safe, reliable transportation," said Kasra Moshkin with Uber.

They urged its riders to support competing legislation proposed by Commissioner Estaban Bovo which would allow Uber to continue performing its' own background checks on drivers and make that information readily available to the county.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez wants to make sure that Uber stays in place. He's in favor of taking a page from Broward or doing what is needed to update the transportation industry to be in line with new technology and service.

"We want to bring the taxi cab industry into the 21st century. We don't want to take Uber back to the 20th century and some of the provisions there may be 20th century provisions that may not be applicable to Uber," said Gimenez.

Another issue under consideration is insurance. Uber says each ride by their drivers is covered by a one million dollar accident liability policy provided by the company.

Uber says if the commission sides with Monestime and approves his restrictions, they may be forced to leave the county.

Last year they faced a similar fight in Broward County.

Uber stopped service in Broward on July 31st after the county passed tough new rules for transportation network companies (TNC) like Uber and Lyft.

At issue were background checks on drivers and their vehicles, insurance and whether convicted felons could be drivers.

In the end, the county commission agreed that Uber would do background checks on their drivers and provide them the information and gave them a six month period to work with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to determine if the company's insurance was sufficient. They also agreed to work out a list of felony convictions which may preclude a person from being a driver.

The app-based service was back on the road in the county in October.