Fort Worth Amends Ridesharing Ordinance
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FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) - The City of Fort Worth is giving more freedom to ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft.
During Tuesday night's city council meeting, the city agreed to not require fingerprint-based background checks for drivers.
Instead the companies will be responsible for screening their drivers.
Mayor Betsy Price released this statement on the city's vehicle for hire ordinance:
"Too many times, we see government interfering in the free market and getting in the way of good ideas and innovative business models. This regulation effectively places the responsibility on the companies to ensure that drivers provide excellent and safe services to residents.
Fort Worth is in the business of facilitating free market oriented business. For that reason, I'm pleased that this new ordinance places less regulation on the rideshare market, allowing the customers and riders to keep companies in check.
As a major U.S. city, we hope that Fort Worth's ordinance will serve as a guide to other cities hoping to balance the need to protect citizens and provide an equitable, free market for the vehicle for hire industry.
By getting out of the way of businesses, we trust that individuals will have the freedom to choose transit options that meet their needs that are kept in check with competitive market rates."
Uber released this statement:
"We applaud the City of Fort Worth for adopting modern ridesharing rules that empower residents, students and visitors to request a ride or earn money at the touch of a button. Mayor Price and Councilman Espino's leadership on this important issue should be commended. This thoughtful approach to regulating ridesharing can serve as a model for other major cities across the state of Texas."
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