Posted on 05/05/2015 1:58:56 PM PDT by xzins
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- Uber says it's ceasing operations in Kansas following the Kansas Legislature's veto of SB 117.
The Republican-controlled Kansas Senate has overridden GOP Gov. Sam Brownback's veto of a bill imposing new regulations on ride-hailing companies like Uber.
The measure would require drivers for ride-hailing companies to undergo Kansas Bureau of Investigation background checks. They'd also need additional auto insurance coverage beyond the $1 million Uber offers when drivers are logged into its network or transporting passengers.
Uber had said the measure would push it out of the state.
Governor Brownback released the following statement following the override:
"... Uber, and other innovative businesses, should be encouraged to operate, grow and create jobs here in Kansas."
(Excerpt) Read more at kake.com ...
The concern is that Uber drivers are under-insured and under-investigated. A rider could jump in the personal car of someone driving illegally on the own car policy or jump into the car of a convicted rapist/robber/murderer.
If those issues are publicized, folks will know what they’re deciding. Afterwards, just let the riders decide for themselves if they want to still use the Uber service.
I thought Kansas was a conservative state, and encouraged free enterprise. This is ridiculous... and disappointing.
Blah blah blah. I’m sick of the nanny states deciding what risks I can take, and which i cannot.
Republicans killed internet poker and lost the next election. (Nobody wants to talk about that)
Now Republicans want to kill Uber and lose the next election.
Regardless of the various arguments that can be made against internet poker and Uber; the fact remains that Republicans are well-meaning but politically-stupid.
Sigh.
as a former cab driver believe me, even with regulations you don’t want to know who’s driving
Me, I probably wouldn’t use the service. I don’t use cabs either. I don’t worry about getting robbed...it’s more about getting ripped off. Instead, I have too many cars. That way there’s always one available.
But if someone else wants to use Uber, a cab, a buggy, a skateboard....I don’t really care one way or the other.
All taxi services should be subjected to the same regulations.
I was always more concerned with the price. “I was robbed!” has always been what came to mind. I’ve never had a cab ride anywhere in the world that I thought, “Gee...that was a good price.” In Seoul, Korea, they should pay you for riding with those guys.
Not if the regulations are protection rackets in favor of big companies and local politicians.
What happened to people taking responsibility for themselves?
Uber is, in a word, fantastic. You know what car is coming, when its coming, and when you arrive at your destination you just get out of the car and go on your merry way without worrying about cash, credit cards, etc.
And the fear of getting robbed is totally over blown. Uber knows exactly who each driver is. They do background checks. If one DID rob you, he would be identified in about 5 minutes.
Uber - wanting to be a ride service without the regulations of actual ride services.
That’s the bottom line.
Maybe change the regulations, and get rid of caps on how many cabs can be in a city. That’s just as non free-market, artficially limiting competition.
you should see what we charged on new years :)
we make NOTHING
if you book 200 in 12 hours, which is a lot, half is yours, minus 15 gallons gas, which 2 yeas ago was 60 bucks, plus tips maybe 30, so seventy bucks for 12 hours. six big ones an hour!!!
glad for the boys that gas went down and they’re getting realistic cabs on the road, no ore grand marquis
Are background checks done on cab drivers?
As long as people understand the risks, let them decide for themselves.
That’s an angle I hadn’t considered: collusion between existing cab companies and the government to keep out competition.
There you go, talking common sense.
Yes. and drug tests. And of course NO company would let someone on the road without the proper license .//dripping sarcasm
200 miles?
I’ll bet not too many Uber drivers choose the family SUV for their business. I’m thinking it’ll be the Fiesta Eco.
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