Ride service in doubt

Uber staying in Broward; how long is unknown

Uber’s still here. But the popular ride-booking service’s future in Broward is uncertain.

The company Friday said it still intends to pull out if Broward County starts enforcing a strict set of laws aimed at drivers-for-hire. The county mayor, meanwhile, said he’s willing to negotiate on one contentious issue he hopes could convince Uber to stay.

Though some doubt the $40 billion company’s threat to leave was sincere, an Uber departure would not be a first.

Last month, Uber pulled out of San Antonio. In March, the company announced it would “pause’’ services in Anchorage. Uber pulled out of Portland, but returned in April under a temporary agreement with the city.

The sticking points in most locales are the same as in Broward County: insurance requirements for the vehicles, and background checks and licensing for the drivers, among other things.

Though similar to a taxi service, Uber and its competitor Lyft say they need laws tailored to their business, in which freelancing drivers use personal vehicles and are connected to riders via a smart phone app.

Uber spokesman Bill Gibbons said Friday the company stands by its comments earlier in the week, that “we cannot operate in Broward County if such onerous regulations are enforced.’’

The Broward County Commission late Tuesday passed two laws containing provisions Uber had said would force it out: all drivers-for-hire must submit to fingerprint-based, “Level II” background checks conducted by the county, each driver and vehicle for “transportation network companies’’ like Uber must be registered with the county, and Uber drivers must follow state insurance laws, which require 24⁄7 insurance for commercial vehicles.

The fingerprint law, the most controversial, passed 6-3, with Commissioners Beam Furr, Chip LaMarca, and Stacy Ritter voting no. The overall transportation network company law legal---

izing and regulating Uber passed unanimously.

For now, though, the law is not in force, and Uber is still here, operating in violation of existing county laws.

Uber riders could still tap the app on a smart phone Friday and catch a quick ride or from Fort LauderdaleHollywood International Airport, for example.

County officials said the new Uber law will be effective soon. The county attorney’s office is finalizing it and expects to send it to the state to be filed — and made effective — next week, assistant county attorney Annika Ashton said.

After that, the county still must set penalties for drivers caught breaking the law, and must arrive at a fee Uber would pay for its permit.

The county also needs approval from the FBI and Florida Department of Law Enforcement to conduct fingerprinting, and that process could take six weeks, said Leonard Vialpando, director of the county division of environmental licensing and building permitting. The county must purchase a fingerprinting machine, as well.

Ultimately, Uber drivers — and any other driver-forhire — will be able to apply online for a chauffeur registration. But Vialpando said they needn’t wait.

“Most of the Uber drivers I’ve talked to have been reasonable and said they didn’t have a big problem with it,’’ he said. “If they want to come down now and get a chauffeur registration, they can.’’

Even under existing law, Uber drivers can be cited for lacking registration for themselves and their vehicle, Vialpando said, and they have been.

Broward Mayor Tim Ryan, meanwhile, said he’s willing to renegotiate the insurance element, as long as there are no gaps in coverage that would leave the riding public exposed. He said he’ll call Uber representatives Monday. Any changes would require a County Commission vote.

Ryan said he’s concerned riders are not covered by Uber’s insurance policy when Uber drivers make side arrangements and pick passengers up without using the Uber app.

On the fingerprinting, he said it’s a great benefit to Uber that should be included in its marketing, touting the service as “safe and dependable.’’ Two Uber drivers told commissioners they pick up unaccompanied children to take them to or from school.

“South Florida is America’s epicenter for identity theft,’’ Ryan said. With fingerprinting, Uber drivers can’t register under an alias in order to avoid revealing a poor driving or criminal history.

“We eliminated that risk,’’ Ryan said.