Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar have been put on notice by district attorneys in both Los Angeles and San Francisco — shape up, or be prepared to ship out. Or be sued.
Both cities' prosecutors sent letters to the leadership of all three companies on Thursday, warning that four areas of law are being repeatedly broken and must be fixed at the risk of legal action, according to reports.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the DAs feel the so-called "ride-sharing" companies pose "a continuing threat to consumers and the public." An official with Sidecar expressed shock, saying that they will meet with the DAs to hammer out difficulties.
All three companies mislead the public in regards to their claims that drivers undergo background checks, the newspaper reported, and all three companies use a shared-ride service that violates state law with its pricing.
They also do not have the right permits to deliver passengers to the airport, and they are not regulated by the same state agency that regulates how much taxis can charge per mile.
The safety concerns raised have gotten the attention of Tricia Denney, who regularly uses ride-sharing services.
"The fact that there are sometimes young children, single women getting in the car most definitely they should do due diligence," Denney said.
Local
Attorney Chris Dolan is applauding the crackdown on ride-sharing services.
"I think it's about time someone from the government with a back bone is forcing these people to do what they are supposed to do," he said.
Dolan is currently suing Uber over the death of 6-year-old Sophia Liu, who was hit and killed by an Uber driver while she was in a crosswalk in San Francisco.
"Ultimately consumers are going to be the ones who suffer," Dolan said. "They are not providing safety training, background checks."
Uber and Lyft did not respond to requests for comment, the Chronicle reported.
