In a recent turn of events, it has become clear that the governing body of Las Vegas, the Nevada Legislature (the controlling power in the State of Nevada) is currently in the process of voting on four bills. These bills could have devastating effects on rideshare companies such as Lyft and Uber.
Known as Senate Bill 279, Senate Bill 226, Assembly Bill 487 and Assembly Bill 445, if passed, these new rules would force rideshare drivers to obtain business licenses before being able to drive and operate on the road. These licenses would even have to be obtained before the drivers join the rideshare companies, such as Lyft and Uber, and would also need to purchase additional insurance that covers the safety and fees of their passengers.
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of drivers operating in the Las Vegas area, one of the most popular destinations in the whole of the USA. It is reported by KTNV that many of these drivers operate full time and is their only source of income.
Referring to Assembly Bill 487, this is the bill that drivers are immediately worried about as, if passed, it effectively hands over the rules and regulations of rideshare companies and places it under the control of the Nevada Taxicab Authority.
The Las Vegas Review Journal stated that Assembly Bill 487 would allow the transportation authority in Las Vegas, Nevada, to effectively join forces with the Nevada Taxicab Authority, allowing them directly control and have the primary say over the rideshare companies as well as the drivers for those companies.
This means that the Nevada Taxicab Authority would have complete control over the rulings and the laws of rideshare companies, effectively allow them to levy the companies.
Lyft executives are fuming, noted having been saying that the passing of these legislations would decrease the ability to have a real rideshare company nearly impossible. They continued, stating it was unfair to have these rules and regulations imposed on rideshare companies but not on any other similar business in the area. They exclaimed that this move was a blatant move by the taxi industry to hinder and even eliminate competition.
All in all, the final ruling on these bills will occur at some point in the next week. It will be interesting to see what happens and whether Las Vegas will effectively reject rideshare companies and drivers, making them the first state in the USA to do so. If so, how many other states will follow suit, and what will happen to the thousands of current drivers that could effectively lose their jobs?
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