Limousine Finder: Mass. Governor Signs Law For Stronger Uber, Lyft Rules

Friday, August 5, 2016

Mass. Governor Signs Law For Stronger Uber, Lyft Rules

<p>Mass. Gov. Charlie Baker (Creative Commons photo)</p> BOSTON — Gov. Charlie Baker on Friday signed into law Massachusetts’ first statewide regulations on transportation network companies like Uber and Lyft.

After months of contentious debate, the new law was hailed by both the TNCs and some in the taxi industry. The regulations impose a new fee on TNCs and establish requirements for background checks, inspections and insurance, but still subject the services to less onerous regulations than taxi drivers face.

Scott Solombrino, president and CEO of Dav El/ Boston Coach and a spokesman for Ride Safe Massachusetts, a coalition of chauffeured car and taxi companies, touted the new law as a way to impose regulation on an industry that previously was entirely unregulated. “We think the bill is good for taxis, it’s good for chauffeured car companies. It’s really good for consumers,” said Solombrino, also a board director of the National Limousine Association.

“Massachusetts now has one of the toughest (TNC) laws on the books, and I think it’s going to become a template for other states,” Solombrino said.

Masslive.com article here