A new Florida poll shows that residents want car-sharing Uber to be regulated at the local level like traditional taxi companies. Uber is a mobile-application-based company that connects customers with luxury vehicle drivers.
Commissioned by Mears Transportation Group in Orlando, the poll shows 78% of Florida residents want to impose stricter regulatory standards on the service. The research comes just as Florida lawmakers are being approached by Uber — possibly, some news reports say, to push for legislation that would effectively permit the company to operate statewide wherever it chooses, rather than be subject to city-by-city “home rule” regulations that govern the taxi industry.
“This poll clearly shows that lawmakers in Tallahassee should immediately put the brakes on any attempt to give Uber a carte-blanche pass to open in any city in Florida,” said Robert Werth, president of the Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association (TLPA), a national trade association focused on transportation professionalism, safety and service. “If they don’t, they should get ready to watch as Uber runs rough-shod over every city’s streets, whether local officials want them there or not. Uber is providing taxicab service, not ridesharing. This legislative action would circumvent the ability of cities and counties to set regulations that protect consumers.”
Here are some highlights from the poll:
78% believe Uber should be subject to the same local city regulations as taxis.
69% said Uber’s fares should be regulated, and therefore avoid Uber’s “surge-pricing.”
89% want to see Uber’s drivers go through the same background checks as taxi drivers.
92% insist that Uber carry traditional liability insurance like taxis.
