County commission passes resolution supporting strict regulations for Uber

By Conor Shine

Tuesday, May 5, 2015 | 3:12 p.m.

Clark County Commissioners expressed support today for allowing Uber and other ridesharing companies to operate legally in Nevada, but with stricter regulations than the companies are currently subject to in other states.

The commission's support came in the form of a resolution approved in a 5-0 vote at their meeting today. The resolution expressed support for allowing Uber to operate, but called for eight specific regulations, including mandatory drug testing, yearly driver training, FBI background checks for drivers and post-accident vehicle inspections.

Those additional restrictions go beyond the regulations other cities have put on Uber and are tougher than rules put in place by a bill currently being debated in the Legislature.

How strictly to regulate Uber has been at the center of one of the most heavily-lobbied fights at the Legislature this session, with Uber pushing for a set of regulations that mirror how it operates in other states.

But some legislators have balked at the proposal and have pushed for stricter controls that include tougher background checks, drug testing and other requirements the county commission endorsed today. The disagreement has lead to a deadlock that has stalled the progress of Senate Bill 439, which would regulate and allow Uber to operate in Nevada.

The rules in the commission's resolution are similar to what taxi cab companies have argued for at the Legislature, contending that Uber should not be granted special treatment and should be subject to the same rules as taxicab drivers. Uber has maintained that its current practices for background checking and overseeing drivers are sufficient to protect passengers.

"I'm in favor of competition, but if we have competition, it needs to be a fair, level playing field. And it needs to be safe," said Clark County Commissioner Steve Sisolak, who put the resolution forward.

Sisolak said he formed the resolution and the suggested regulations with input from legislators, the Livery Operators Association and his own experience from his time on the Taxicab Authority board.

The county's input is merely a suggestion to legislators, who will have the final say on whether Uber is allowed to operate in Nevada.

Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani was the only commissioner to not support the resolution by abstaining from the vote. Commissioner Mary Beth Scow was absent from the meeting and did not vote.

Giunchigliani disagreed with some of the proposed regulations, including the driver training and drug testing. She said she didn't think it was the county's place to be getting involved in the Legislature's decision.

"I have concerns with some of the eight (regulations) listed," she said. "I'm not sure why we're even being involved in this as a county commission. It's a legislative issue. There's a bill draft and it's either going to make it or not make it. I don't know that our weighing in one way or the other would make sense."