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Hillsborough PTC committee advances controversial new rule proposals for Uber and Lyft

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

A subcommittee with the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission has forwarded a recommended package of new rules for ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft — which neither company wants. The proposed rules would include the following stipulations for Transportation Network Companies: Background checks: Level II background checks, including fingerprinting Insurance coverage: As required by current state law Required wait time: 7 minutes Required minimum fare: $7 The Rules & Policy Committee of the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission on Tuesday voted 2-1 to forward…

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PSTA program to provide free Uber, taxi rides to second, third shift workers

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

Low-income residents on late shifts could get free transportation to and from work under a pilot program unveiled Wednesday by the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority. The TD Late Shift program is a partnership between the PSTA, Uber and United Taxi. The program, funded by a $300,000 grant from the state Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged, could affect up to 6,000 Pinellas workers, PSTA officials said. The goal of the year-long pilot is to develop a model that can be replicated…

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Uber raising fares 11% in Tampa Bay

in The Bay and the 'Burg by

The cost of hailing an Uber in the Tampa Bay area are going up, but the ride hailing company said the rates are still lower than they were at the end of 2015. In an email Thursday, Uber said the company is raising rates by 11 percent in Tampa Bay. The move comes just a few months after the company dropped its rates to entice more drivers. The company charged $1.80 per mile when it started in Tampa Bay in…

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Uber legislation finally flames out

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

A compromise between Republican lawmakers and ride-hailing firms like Uber was on thin ice Friday afternoon as Session raced to a close, until finally, the bill hit a brick wall. Sen. David Simmons, the Senate Rules Chair, had worked on the bill (SB 1118) for months. It would have mandated minimum commercial insurance requirements for drivers with Uber and similar app-based companies, known as “transportation network companies” in Capitol-ese. The House — which favors a more Uber-friendly approach — passed its own bill (HB 509) last…

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Uber delivers to Andy Gardiner thousands of pro-ridesharing petition signatures

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

A representative for Uber personally delivered what he said was 32,588 petitions to Senate President Andy Gardiner on Thursday morning, continuing the intensifying fight between Senate leadership and the ride-hailing industry over insurance regulations and the preemption of local ordinances. The two parties are locked in a heated debated over whether the Senate should vote on a House-approved pro-“ridesharing” plan sponsored by Sen. Jeff Brandes, or whether to take up a more modest bill that would settle outstanding sticking points on insurance crafted by Senate…

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Ride-sharing bill passes Senate committee while paving the way for impasse

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted favorably a measure that would regulate Transportation Network Companies like Uber and Lyft. The proposed bill requires $1 million in insurance coverage for ride-hailing drivers provided either by the individual or by the company. Currently, laws vary from location to location and often leave drivers carrying only private automobile coverage that would not apply while using their vehicle for hire. The provision is similar to a bill passed in the House, but omits several items…

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Pro-business groups, lawmakers form ridesharing coalition

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

Stare business and transportation leaders along with officials pushing comprehensive ride-hailing legislation launched the Floridians for Ridesharing Coalition Tuesday ahead of discussion slated for the Senate Judiciary committee. State Sen. Jeff Brandes and Rep. Matt Gaetz both back legislation in their respective chambers that would regulate the industry through rules on insurance requirements for drivers. Rules governing companies such as Uber and Lyft are ambiguous and leave drivers vulnerable to traffic tickets and being turned away from customers. Insurance experts…

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