MASSACHUSETT’S GOVERNOR DEVAL PATRICK BYPASSES STATE AND CITY LEGISLATION EXEMPTING UBER FROM ALL STATE AND CITY CAR SERVICE REGULATIONS

Statement on Governor Patrick’s Rideshare Proposal

 

December 2014

Boston, MA - The Massachusetts Regional Taxi Advisory Group (MRTA), a coalition of consumers and businesses working for a safe ride for hire industry, is strongly opposed to the 11th hour attempt of Governor Deval Patrick (D-MA) to enact regulatory changes to the benefit of Uber and Lyft. This action is taken at the expense of public safety for Massachusetts residents and visitors alike, and just weeks prior to his leaving office!

As reported in the Boston Globe recently, the Patrick administration is seeking to bypass the legislature and, just as important, the Commonwealth’s Mayors and Town Managers,
by exempting Uber from current laws and regulations governing ride for hire services. This action is a clear acknowledgement that the Governor’s office was aware that Uber and other rideshare services were in violation of existing law. It does raise the question: Why have the Governor and his administration refused to enforce these laws all this time?!

Documents obtained by MRTA show that as far back as August 25, 2014, the administration was aware Uber was in violation of the Code of Massachusetts Regulations. A memo by then Secretary Davey of Transportation and Secretary Bartlett of Public Utilities referring to the UberX model stated,

“Unlike taxi companies or livery companies, drivers for Transportation Network Companies are often picking up and dropping passengers off for hire in the driver’s personal vehicle. This is in direct conflict with state regulation 540 CMR 2.00.”

It then outlines a strategy to change the regulations which would likely never have been announced if the Globe had not uncovered the initiative.

Previously, the Governor had stepped in when the state Division of Standards issued a Cease and Desist order on August 1, 2012 to Uber because Uber was operating in violation of Massachusetts state law. Two weeks later, on August 15, 2012, the Governor had the order rescinded. These actions are an affront to law abiding businesses in the industry and put consumers at risk by allowing inadequately insured drivers, with questionable backgrounds, to operate unsafe vehicles in our cities and towns.

Stephen Regan
Regan Strategies

 

 


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