Ridebooking, Insurance Companies Say They Have Safety Deal
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A fight at the Capitol over proposed regulations for ridebooking companies appears to be cooling off.
Services like Uber and Lyft connect drivers with fare-paying riders through smartphone apps. Minnesota is one of many states where lawmakers pitched plans to require extra insurance for drivers. They want to ensure drivers are sufficiently covered in case of an accident.
Uber fought hard against that legislation and said it threatened its Minnesota operations. But Uber lobbyist Joel Carlson told a Senate committee Friday that they had worked out a national deal with the insurance industry.
A bill similar to that agreement is headed to the Senate floor. It would require separate insurance coverage for drivers while they work. The House version is also headed to a floor vote.
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