FYI Uber did the background check
http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Uber-driver-had-federal-drug-conviction-6184061.php
"Austin wants Uber and Lyft to follow the same safety rules for fingerprint background checks as taxi and limo drivers. Uber refuses, even though it has agreed to that rule in cities like Houston.
I'm fingerprinted/backgrounded for work, my friend works for COA electric...same deal and no big deal at all for someone with nothing to hide. For a corporation to say they will do their own checks or they'll leave rubs me wrong. Hold them to the same standards as taxi drivers (which they are)...vote no on prop 1
Translation: The city has been making a racket of licensing taxis and charging them for everything we require them to do to obtain and keep a license. We now want to extend that approach to Uber and increase the size, scope and control of city government over private business (instead of looking at Uber's success and removing barriers to entry and operation for existing taxi companies). We don't have any proof that the city doing things its way is better, unless you look at the price and customer satisfaction differences between taxis and ridesharing. Ridesharing is both cheaper and has higher customer satisfaction, so we need to regulate it to make it "less" competitive vs. our taxi cartel.
It is about time to call in arc light on austin
If Uber/Lyft were going to do the same level of background checks as the city then I would be for it, but they aren't.
$#@! every last one of them with an AIDS infected cactus.
The amount of flat out SHITTY cab drivers that our guests have to contend with is freakin' unREAL! Since uber, then lyft came to town, our guests have been experiencing a much higher level of service than they would ever experience from any of the Austin taxis.
You mean those same background checks that the city's "stellar" cab drivers pass?
You're security concerns are understandable. You have the very clear option to just not ever use an Uber or Lyft and instead use a cab if that is what meets your standard. Why is a government mandate needed here?If Uber/Lyft were going to do the same level of background checks as the city then I would be for it, but they aren't. That kills it for me.
You're security concerns are understandable.
For me it is much simpler than that. I believe taxi and Uber/Lyft drivers should all be subject to the same rules.