California will require fingerprint screening for Uber drivers to provide rideshares to minors

California is introducing new necessities aimed toward defending younger passengers touring alone in taxis and rideshares. The California Public Utilities Fee is requiring drivers to cross a fingerprint background verify with a purpose to present a journey to an unaccompanied minor. In accordance with , transit corporations may even be accountable for the price of these background checks. Corporations can have 30 days to adjust to this coverage.

This ruling will principally impression Uber, which started rolling out final yr and added additional to the accounts this yr. Uber for Teenagers, which permits minors between the ages of 13 and 17 to hail a journey with out their guardian or guardian current, though an grownup has to supply consent for the teenager to make use of the app.

Uber has traditionally pushed again towards fingerprinting drivers, arguing that the extra burden would discourage participation within the rideshare service and that its personal security guards are ample. In actual fact, this is not the primary time Uber and California over fingerprinting. On this case, Uber can also be objecting that shouldering the price of fingerprinting background checks will result in larger fares for unaccompanied minors utilizing the rideshare service.