Uber Vs. Taxi Showdown Takes Center Stage At State House
BOSTON (CBS/AP) — The tension between traditional taxis drivers and those who drive for newer services like Uber and Lyft is on display at a Statehouse hearing on bills that would regulate the ride hailing companies.
Legislation filed by Gov. Charlie Baker would require all drivers for the ride hailing companies to undergo state criminal background checks and to carry at least $1 million in liability insurance whenever they are actively seeking or providing rides.
Uber drivers wearing blue T-shirts applauded administration officials who testified before the Financial Services Committee on behalf of Baker's bill.
But cabbies wearing yellow shirts showed their approval for a measure filed by two Boston lawmakers that calls for more stringent regulation of ride hailing services and tougher background checks, including fingerprinting of drivers.
Boston Police Commissioner William Evans testified that riders have mistaken his black, unmarked SUV for an Uber vehicle.
"It's happened to my drivers. They knock on the door and say, 'You're not the Uber guy," he said "Unless we have markings, people can walk up to a car and say, 'that's my Uber person."
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Doug Cope reports:
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