D.C. passes bill that could become ‘model’ for regulating Uber, Lyft across the country

You might not believe this but something good has come out of the government in D.C.!

The D.C. Council passed a bill Tuesday legalized ride-sharing services and Uber is hoping it will become “a model” for other cities to follow.

The bill, called the Vehicle-for-Hire Innovation Act of 2014, “could be a model for the rest of the country and maybe the world,” David Plouffe, Uber’s chief strategist and former aide to President Barack Obama, told the Washington Post.

The bill requires background checks on Uber drivers going back seven years, annual safety inspections, and $1 million in liability insurance when a driver is en route to a rider and when the rider is actually being transported, Buzzfeed reported.

The bill also bans drivers from “street hails,” meaning that they can only accept payment for riders they pick up through the app. A late amendment gives police officers the ability to check drivers’ phones if they suspect an illegal street hail has been made. If caught, the Uber driver will face a civil fine.

“We are proud that Uber’s safety standards have set the bar for ridesharing in DC, and throughout the country,” Uber wrote on its blog.

“From the Potomac to the Pentagon, DC has led the way in embracing innovative solutions to modern transportation challenges and we’re excited to see the local Lyft community grow and thrive for years to come,” a Lyft spokeswoman told Buzzfeed in an emailed statement.

The bill was heavily opposed by the taxi unions, who claimed it did not create a level playing field.

“The illegal private sedan services currently do not follow the same rules and regulations that taxi drivers must follow, and the bill in its current form falls far too short in providing fairness,” the D.C. Taxi Operators Association said in a statement. “Because of the private sedan services’ huge competitive advantage, D.C. taxi drivers are losing work and are struggling to make ends meet.”

The final approved version creates a way for innovation to thrive while still keeping its users safe.