By Donald Wittkowski
For more than a year, Sea Isle City has complained that the ride-sharing company Uber has broken its traffic laws, failed to buy taxi licenses and even had sloppily dressed drivers who didn’t fit the clean-cut image the beach town wants to convey to its tourists.
All that may change, however, following Gov. Chris Christie’s signing Friday of legislation that creates the first statewide regulations for app-based, ride-hailing companies such as Uber and Lyft.
The new law sets standards for criminal background checks, insurance coverage and permits for the companies and their drivers – all requirements that Sea Isle officials have eagerly awaited to help them deal with their concerns about Uber.
“This law ensures app-based ride services abide by safety and service standards, protecting riders, motorists and our roadways through commonsense drug, alcohol, inspection and background screenings, and requiring adequate insurance policies,” the governor said in a statement.
The law, which takes effect May 1, will cover all New Jersey towns where Uber, Lyft and similar companies operate. Prior to Christie signing the bill, Sea Isle’s City Council had considered enacting its own rules to regulate ride-sharing companies. The new legislation will relieve Sea Isle of that burden.
Under the regulations, ride-sharing companies must conduct criminal background checks of their drivers, although fingerprinting won’t be a requirement, according to media reports. However, the state Attorney General’s Office could step in to require fingerprinting if it finds that the background checks done by the companies are inadequate.
Sea Isle’s difficulties with Uber have been discussed repeatedly at City Council meetings in recent months. In particular, city officials have been stressing the need for criminal background checks for drivers as a safety measure to protect passengers who use ride-hailing services.
“We want to protect our residents and visitors here. We want to know who is picking them up,” Council President William Kehner said at the Jan. 24 meeting.
Kehner also complained about the appearance of some of Uber’s drivers, noting that they were unkempt and sloppily dressed. He also said they were driving around in old cars.
“They just didn’t look the part for what we were hoping for Sea Isle City,” Kehner said.
Sea Isle officials also emphasized they want ride-sharing companies to have insurance coverage to protect consumers. The legislation signed by Christie requires the companies to carry $1.5 million in commercial insurance coverage.
Sea Isle doesn’t prohibit ride-sharing companies, but it does require them to buy taxi licenses. City Solicitor Paul Baldini said during the Jan. 24 Council meeting that Uber never bought any licenses, apparently because the company simply didn’t want to spend the money.
“Nobody has done that from Uber to this date,” Baldini said, referring to the licensing requirement.
The beach town ticketed dozens of Uber drivers last summer for operating illegally. Councilwoman Mary Tighe said police were forced to issue tickets when Uber drivers would illegally solicit passengers or stop in the middle of the road to pick them up, creating a traffic hazard.
Despite the strained relationship with Uber, city officials insist they are willing to work with the company for ride-sharing services that would benefit everyone.
“We’re not against Uber. … “We do welcome them,” Baldini said.
