If you knew that someone has a history of driving under the influence, or driving recklessly, and has been in multiple accidents before, would you feel safe getting in the car with them? Chances are you might have second thoughts, which is perfectly reasonable, and something you expect taxi companies, Uber, or Lyft to look into before hiring drivers.Unfortunately it seems that some drivers might have slipped through the cracks, because Uber has since been hit with a $8.9 million fine over in Colorado for hiring drivers who have been found to have past criminal or motor vehicle offenses. This includes drivers who have had felony convictions to driving under the influence and reckless driving, or in some cases these drivers even have had their licenses revoked, suspended, or cancelled, meaning that they should not have made it past background checks in the first place.
In an announcement by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) director Doug Dean, “We have determined that Uber had background-check information that should have disqualified these drivers under the law, but they were allowed to drive anyway. These actions put the safety of passengers in extreme jeopardy.”
Uber spokeswoman Stephanie Sedlak has since provided a statement from the company on the matter, “We recently discovered a process error that was inconsistent with Colorado’s ridesharing regulations and proactively notified the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). This error affected a small number of drivers and we immediately took corrective action. Per Uber safety policies and Colorado state regulations, drivers with access to the Uber app must undergo a nationally accredited third-party background screening. We will continue to work closely with the CPUC to enable access to safe, reliable transportation options for all Coloradans.”