SARASOTA, Fla. (WFLA) – The city of Sarasota has drafted an ordinance to regulate ride sharing services like Uber. Uber has been operating in Sarasota since last fall, but city officials say the company isn’t following the rules. Sarasota Parking Division Manager Mark Lyons said, “I think the city loves the Uber operating model. We just want to make them legal.”
So on Monday night, city commissioners discussed a new ordinance. It would require the Uber drivers to go through background checks and submit their fingerprints. Their cars must also be marked and they have to be inspected by city officials. Lyons said, “They might see it as a little bit difficult for them to do that but our goal from the city’s standpoint is to protect the citizenry.” An Uber attorney told 8 On Your Side the company is very unhappy with the proposal for background checks. The company does its own checks on its drivers.
In a statement, an Uber spokesman said, “As written, the proposed ordinance would threaten our ability to continue providing access to safe, reliable transportation options and expanded economic opportunity for local entrepreneurs. We hope commissioners and the county attorney continue work with us to develop more modern, sensible regulations and create a permanent home for ride sharing in Sarasota.”
David Jewett, owner of Downtown Taxi said, “[Uber is] illegal. They’re totally illegal.” Jewett says the city has not done a good job enforcing the law since Uber has been in town. “To this point, the rules and regulations that are in the books regarding taxi cabs and for hired vehicles has not even been enforced. So any new proposals, I don’t have much faith in any of them being backed up either,” he said.
And he feels if an ordinance is adopted, it would pave the way for Uber to take away customers. Jewett said, “I look at it as they’re working against us. It almost comes across as they don’t want taxi cabs in Sarasota.” City commissioners are still making tweaks to the ordinance, and they will take it up again at an upcoming meeting next month.
