By Donald Wittkowski
Sea Isle City has an Uber problem.
The beach town ticketed Uber drivers over the summer for operating illegally and now finds itself grappling with ways to regulate the popular ridesharing service.
City Council wants to create a regulatory framework to allow Uber and fellow ridesharing company Lyft to legally carry passengers starting next summer, but the process has hit bumps in the road.
Councilwoman Mary Tighe said she has been contacted by local residents and tourists, urging her and the city to "figure out a way" to bring Uber and Lyft to town.
Tighe has been discussing the issue with City Solicitor Paul Baldini in hopes of creating regulations by the start of the 2017 summer tourism season. She pledged that the city will continue to talk with Uber to try to work out an agreement.
In the meantime, attempts to reach a deal have been delayed by a switch with Uber's legal representatives, Baldini said. He told City Council members at their meeting Tuesday that he plans to contact the new law firm representing Uber as soon as possible.
Uber drivers were ticketed by Sea Isle police over the summer for illegally picking up and dropping off passengers. Tighe said the police did not target Uber, but were forced to issue tickets when drivers would illegally solicit passengers or would stop in the middle of the road to pick them up, creating a traffic hazard.
About two dozen Uber drivers reached plea agreements in Sea Isle City Municipal Court in August to pay fines of between $200 and $300 each, according to the Cape May County Herald.
Council President Bill Kehner said Sea Isle is not the first town to have trouble with ridesharing companies. He noted that Uber and Lyft drivers were operating illegally in Philadelphia until state legislation was approved this week by Pennsylvania lawmakers to allow them back on the streets.
One key part of the Pennsylvania legislation requires Uber and Lyft to pay a 1.4 percent tax on all of their rides, with the revenue going to the Philadelphia school district and the Philadelphia Parking Authority, the agency that regulates ridesharing and taxi services.
In New Jersey, the Assembly approved a bill on Oct. 20 to regulate Uber and Lyft. The legislation is awaiting Senate action.
