Why doesn't Uber do proper background screenings that includes fingerprinting? Taxi and limousine drivers go through this simple process. Why not Uber? Watch video
By Lionel A. Leach
"Why does Uber hire criminals to drive their customers around?" Sound like a loaded question? Not really.
Consider that Uber, Lyft and other app-based transportation companies knowingly operate illegally in New Jersey; and these companies refuse to do proper background checks, including fingerprints, on their applicants.
When you factor those two elements together, you quickly realize these companies care less about the law and put profits ahead of passenger safety.
Sound farfetched? Consider this, San Francisco did a recent roundup of Uber drivers. Officials there were disturbed to find convicted sex offenders, identity thieves, burglars, kidnappers and murderers all within the Uber ranks. The district attorneys filing the complaint against Uber wrote Uber's "false and misleading statements are so woven into the fabric of Uber's safety narrative that they render Uber's entire safety message misleading."
So why doesn't Uber do proper background screenings that includes fingerprinting? Taxi and limousine drivers go through this simple process. Why not Uber?
The obvious answer is money. Uber's entire business model is based on registering as many drivers as possible so they can grow their revenue stream. If the only thing a person has to do is sit on a couch and take pictures of their documents to become a driver, then you should expect all kinds of people to sign up.
In Houston, Texas, following an Uber driver's assault on a female passenger, officials discovered that Uber's background check failed and a criminal that was on probation was able to slip through the cracks.
"Not all background checks are created equal," said Lara Cottingham, deputy assistant director to the city of Houston's administration and regulatory affairs department. "It's easy to lie about your name, it's easy to lie about your Social Security number, it's easy to lie about where you've lived. Your fingerprints are tied to you."
Houston now requires Uber and related drivers to go through the simple process of providing fingerprints as part of a routine background check -- because fingerprints don't lie.
In pursuit of profits, Uber and others spend millions fighting the requirement of performing thorough background checks. They argue that their checks are "sufficient" and that they meet "industry standards." Uber even threatens to leave an area if they are required to do fingerprint checks.
For example, when New York City required that app-based transportation companies meet the same safety standards as taxis, Uber vehemently opposed the measure. They threatened lawsuits. They funded high-priced public relations campaigns. And yes, Uber stomped their feet and threatened to leave.
However, when NYC officials stood their ground and put passenger safety ahead of company profits, Uber eventually complied.
Why? Because Uber knows they can make good money by going through the proper process. Now, passengers in NYC have a real choice. Uber, Lyft and taxis all follow the same rules and the paying public is benefitting from the competition.
So why not New Jersey? If it's good enough for New Yorkers, why not us? Why the double standard?
Fortunately, some mayors are standing up to these billion-dollar companies and are cracking down on the illegal operations.
In Newark, where hundreds of tickets have been issued to Uber drivers, Mayor Ras Baraka's administration issued a stark warning to Uber stating that, effective Feb. 22, Uber cars will be towed and additional violations will result in civil and criminal penalties.
Cities including Camden, West Windsor, Atlantic City and others have promised similar measures and have indicated their support for a state-wide solution to these illegal activities.
To that end, legislation has been introduced in New Jersey that would legalize Uber and level the playing field between app-based transportation companies and taxis and limousines. Yet Uber is fighting these proposals.
Why? And why would a New Jersey legislator not want these types of background checks conducted knowing that they are currently being administered on taxi and limousine drivers here in New Jersey and on Uber drivers in NYC?
Would these same lawmakers allow gun dealers to conduct their own background checks? Is, "Don't worry about it. You can trust us," a sufficient response from a gun dealer? No, and it shouldn't be for Uber either.
The time to level the playing field is now and every day that goes by that Uber signs up another driver without conducting a proper background check is another slap in the face of the residents of New Jersey.
Please reach out to your legislator and ask that they support state Assembly bill A-609 and state Senate bill S-858. Tell them your safety is more valuable than profits.
Lionel A. Leach is the President of CWA, Local 1039, the parent organization of the United Transportation Alliance of New Jersey.
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