Roger Wood

Uber drivers say no thanks to local government regulation. Local government says no to Uber drivers.

About two dozen of the ride-sharing drivers or supporters demonstrated with signs outside New Hampshire City Hall Monday.  They were there to demonstrate their belief that drivers with the national organization shouldn’t have to undergo criminal background checks or have other regulations imposed on them. Some of the people that Portsmouth Herald reporter Karen Dandurant and I spoke to were philosophically aligned with the Free Staters, who oppose any kind of public regulations on their activities. One driver, Joel, ( who didn’t give his last name), from Alton, is an Uber driver.

The other man, Fred Hovasapien is not a driver for Uber, but does lean philosophically in the direction of the Free-State project.

After some debate, the Portsmouth City Council voted to postpone action on a proposed transportation services ordinance that would exempt Uber drivers from background checks and insurance retention.

Mayor Bob Lister said that that the drivers “work here and should follow the rules.” Cab drivers at the council meeting maintained that requiring the regulations would force Uber to raise prices, and be competitive with taxis.  The city attorney and transportation services committee will meet and discuss the issue more before bringing it back to the council.

For IndepthNH.org, I’m Roger Wood