
California is introducing new necessities geared toward defending younger passengers touring alone in taxis and rideshares. The California Public Utilities Fee is requiring drivers to cross a fingerprint background test to be able to present a trip to an unaccompanied minor. Based on , transit firms may also be chargeable for the price of these background checks. Corporations may have 30 days to adjust to this coverage.
This ruling will largely influence Uber, which started rolling out final yr and added additional to the accounts this yr. Uber for Teenagers, which permits minors between the ages of 13 and 17 to hail a trip with out their mum or dad or guardian current, though an grownup has to supply consent for the teenager to make use of the app.
Uber has traditionally pushed again in opposition to fingerprinting drivers, arguing that the extra burden would discourage participation within the rideshare service and that its personal security guards are enough. Actually, this is not the primary time Uber and California over fingerprinting. On this case, Uber can be objecting that shouldering the price of fingerprinting background checks will result in greater fares for unaccompanied minors utilizing the rideshare service.