A city panel overseeing taxicabs in Los Angeles will discuss a proposal Thursday that would require all taxi drivers in the city to use electronic hailing apps, similar to ones used by many newer ride-sharing companies.
The Taxicab Commission will discuss a proposed board order that would require taxi drivers to subscribe to “e-hail technology” certified by the city. According to the proposal, such technology already exists, but “less than half of the city’s taxi drivers actually use it.”
The proposal is in response to taxicab companies competing with popular of ride-share companies such as Uber and Lyft that use smartphone apps to connect drivers to riders electronically.
The city contends the proposed regulation is needed to level the playing field between traditional taxicabs and newer ride-sharing companies, which have “superior technology” and benefit from “lighter regulation.”
But traditional taxi drivers say the new ride-sharing companies are operating outside the city’s regulatory system as “bandit cabs,” and are unsafe due to weak regulation.
The ride-sharing companies have come under fire recently from local jurisdictions, including from Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey, who sued Uber last week. She alleged the ride-sharing company makes false or misleading statements about the quality of background checks it conducts on its drivers and does not have required authorization to operate at airports.
— City News Service