Council advances measure to regulate ride-hailing

A City Council bill that would regulate Uber, Lyft and other ride-hailing operations in the same manner as taxi companies won an initial approval Thursday from the Council Transportation Committee, the same day a state legislative panel across Punchbowl Street was moving out a measure giving the counties authority to do so.

Council Bill 85 (2015) puts ride-hailing companies within the same definition as taxicab companies.

The matter prompted impassioned testimony from officials and drivers of both traditional cab companies and Uber at Thursday’s hearing.

David Jung, owner and general manager of EcoCab, said drivers for his company and ride-hailing companies are indistinguishable because both pick up passengers from one point and drop them off at another of their choosing for a fee.

“They’re identical,” Jung said. “We both walk and quack like a duck.”

But taxi drivers must pass written and oral tests as well as a physical examination, while Uber drivers need only obtain a driver’s license, he said. Taxi drivers are restricted as to where they can wait to pick up passengers, but Uber drivers are not, he said.

Tabatha Chow, an operations manager for Uber in Hawaii, warned 3,500 “flexible income opportunities” would be lost if the bill moves through. “Should this bill pass, Uber would be forced to shut down on Oahu.”

Chow said the Council should consider a framework for transportation network companies like Uber that supports the needs of riders and drivers in the Honolulu area.

Taylor Patterson, another Uber official, said her company is willing to work with the city to come up with regulations for ride-hailing companies. “We do work with regulators and law enforcement agencies in cities across the country and around the world.”

The bill, introduced by Council Chairman Ernie Martin and Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi, also addresses concerns over better monitoring of taxicab drivers to ensure passengers’ safety.

The measure was moved out of committee but was not put on Wednesday’s Council agenda.

Council Transportation Chairman Joey Manahan said he wants the measure to be heard at the same time as bills 7 and 10, which both seek to allow the city more leeway in investigating taxi drivers’ criminal records.

Two taxi-related resolutions, both introduced by Councilman Ron Menor, also were approved by the committee. Resolution 16-16 urges the Legislature to pass a bill allowing the counties to access federal background check information from the FBI. Resolution 16-17 asks city officials to work toward requiring drug screening of taxi drivers.

At the Capitol on Thursday, two Senate committees approved Senate Bill 1277, granting the counties the authority to regulate ride-hailing companies. Also moved out was SB 3155, which would give the counties access to state and federal criminal background checks of applicants for taxicab driver certificates.