Jefferson City is looking to get ahead of any potential issues as ride-sharing companies become more popular in other communities.
At the Council Committee on Administration meeting Wednesday, City Attorney Drew Hilpert presented a bill seeking to categorize ride-sharing services, such as smartphone applications like Uber and Lyft, as "vehicles for hire."
The bill, he said, would require ride-sharing companies to be regulated as a taxi service, which would require a permit, a certificate of public liability and property damage insurance, and records of dispatches.
According to the proposed bill summary, "numerous problems have arisen in regards to ride-sharing. The drivers are not employees of the company and are independent contractors and as such the companies take no responsibility for the drivers. Failure to have adequate insurance, driver's license and training are often cited complaints. Several more serious problems such as kidnapping have occurred."
Hilpert said the ride-sharing company Uber recently began offering service in Columbia, and they could try to move into Jefferson City.
"It's not a stretch to think they'll come down here," Hilpert said.
The proposed bill originally stemmed from a request from Checker Cab of Jefferson City. Mike Olive, general manager of Checker Cab, said he just wants to make sure ride-sharing companies have to follow the same regulations as taxi companies, if they come to Jefferson City.
The committee unanimously approved the bill, which will go to the full City Council for review.