Gov. McCrory Signs New Regulations for Ride-Sharing Services

CHARLOTTE, NC — Good news for those of you who like to catch a ride using your cellphone.  Uber and Lyft got a boost of confidence Friday as Governor Pat McCrory signed new state regulations.

Getting a ride on Uber is as simple as clicking the button on your phone.  And now, thanks to new regulations by the state, those rides just got a lot safer.  But not everyone is celebrating the changes.

“No one in the industry has a problem with them being here, we just want them to follow the same rules that we do,” says Royal Cab Company Manager Rudolph Kirkpatrick.

 And those rules just got a little stricter.

“Hey the horse and buggie era is over,” says Gov. Pat McCrory.  “We all had to adapt; that is exactly what we are doing.”

Governor McCrory signed a new state regulation Friday in Charlotte involving rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft.

“We’re requiring to continue the safety for riders, with background checks for drivers and the comprehensive insurance coverage for their cars,” says Gov. McCrory.

In a statement to WCCB Charlotte, an Uber spokesperson says: “We thank Gov. McCrory and all parties involved for officially welcoming choice, innovation and opportunity across the state.”

Veteran cab company manager Rudolph Kirkpatrick isn’t as welcoming, saying they should also have to follow stricter local regulations.

“They’re not falling under the vehicle-for-hire regulations, and that’s what we feel like they should have to go under, which is different than the state,” says Kirkpatrick.

Uber has not brought down business here, but Kirkpatrick says he worries about one: the future of the business and two: the safety of the riders.

“I actually took one yesterday with this awesome guy named David,” says Laudia Chamberlain of Columbia, SC.

Safety is something these frequent Uber riders say they hadn’t really thought about.

“I feel safe,” says Chamberlain.  “I don’t know if I would take it by myself, but I don’t know if I would take any cab by myself in general.”

Uber says the new regulations require $1.5 million primary insurance coverage for every trip.  Uber currently has 8,000 drivers in North Carolina, and plans to expand to 13,000.