Earlier this month the Midland City Council held its first public hearing for an ordinance that would regulate transportation network companies (TNCs), such as Uber and Lyft, like taxi companies.
The ordinance has three sections, as outlined during the meeting.
The first section regulates the network—wherein TNCs need to pay a $3,000 annual fee, provide the names of all their drivers, offer complete vehicle information and proof of insurance every six months, give a clear explanation how they charge their customers, and submit a proposal detailing how they plan to prevent substance abuse among their drivers.
The second section regulates drivers. Those looking to be TNC drivers would need to approach city offices, apply for a TNC license, and provide information—name, address, Texas driver’s license information, driving record, and criminal history information. A $25 fee would be required of every driver for a license and sticker that must be prominently displayed on their vehicle, according to the city attorney’s office.
The last section covers miscellaneous provisions. Such provisions include prohibiting the use of vehicles older than nine years or that have more than 150,000 miles on them, as well as rejecting applicants who have a felony or serious driving violation on their records.
The ordinance has an additional restriction that permits only taxi cabs to pick up clients from the airport. The city attorney’s office reasoned that because taxi cab companies incur costs picking up clients from the terminal—as even waiting in line at the departure section requires a permit—TNC drivers could potentially make the market needlessly competitive.
Uber found the regulations “fairly normal” and similar to other cities where the company also operates, claimed Uber Technologies North and West Texas general manager Leandre Johns. Indeed, the ordinance took inspiration from other cities, confirmed city attorney John Ohnemiller and councilman J Ross Lacy.
