The ride-sharing service UberX has yet to persuade local regulators why its drivers don’t need government background checks and drug tests to begin offering rides in St. Louis and St. Louis County.
Metropolitan Taxicab Commissioners met Tuesday to consider the pros and cons of revising its vehicle-for-hire code to permit UberX and other such transportation network companies (TNC).
About two dozen people attended the meeting to show their support or opposition including representatives from the local taxi companies and independent entrepreneurs.
The company’s Midwest General Manager Sagar Shaw told the commission that the service offers greater driver accountability than traditional taxi services because of GPS tracking and real-time user feedback.
“When we add excessive and unnecessary barriers and burdens on the driver application process the business model for TNCs and UberX – that currently operates in 150 cities around the U.S. – ceases to work.”
Shaw explained that UberX conducts its own background checks that are more extensive than what the FBI and Missouri State Highway Patrol can offer. Moreover, he said drug tests only offer a “snap shot” of a driver’s habits and are less effective at identifying individuals with substance abuse issues than UberX which facilitates robust customer feedback.
But Commission Chairman Lou Hamilton said the company seems to have no problems doing business in Houston and New York City, which both require drug testing and background checks.
“There is evidence that [Uber’s] checks are acceptable and may even work in some situations,” he said, adding, however, “there is evidence in at least two of the biggest cities in the U.S. that drug testing and fingerprint-base background checks are acceptable and work very successfully.”
The Commission is scheduled to meet July 29 to possibly vote on proposals to regulate companies like UberX and process driver applications.
