What's happening
This bill requires additional identification measures for rideshare drivers and vehicles, including machine-readable codes to confirm authorized trips.
Why it matters
Increases Passenger Safety and Trip Verification. By requiring a machine-readable code (like a QR code) to be scanned before entering a rideshare vehicle, the bill aims to prevent passengers from mistakenly entering unauthorized or fraudulent vehicles, addressing concerns about impersonation and rider safety.
Enhances Driver and Vehicle Identification. The mandate for visible driver identification cards—including the driver’s name, photo, and vehicle license plate—posted inside vehicles ensures that riders have immediate and clear access to essential information about their driver, making it easier to verify identity at a glance.
Sets New Statewide Standards for Rideshare Vehicles. The required illuminated signage and exterior display of machine-readable codes create uniform visual cues, making rideshare vehicles more easily identifiable and reducing confusion, especially in busy or crowded areas.
Pushes for Technological Integration in Ridesharing. By codifying the use of mobile devices and app-based scanning for trip confirmation, the bill reflects and promotes the adoption of current technologies to enhance accountability and consumer trust in the rideshare industry.
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Who cares
Transportation network companies
They would have to issue driver identification cards, provide vehicle verification codes and enable passengers to scan those codes through their digital networks before entering a vehicle and before payment is released.
Transportation network company drivers
Their vehicles would need conspicuously posted driver identification cards, illuminated company signs and exterior machine-readable codes or images.
Ride-hailing passengers
They would gain a way to verify their assigned vehicle by scanning its exterior code with a mobile device before entering, along with driver identification visible from every seating position.
New York State Department of Motor Vehicles
It would have to prescribe and approve driver identification card forms and adopt regulations for illuminated company signs and exterior verification codes.
Headline styles
ID Rules for Ridehail Drivers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to transportation
- Print number 5536c
- Amend and recommit to transportation
- Print number 5536b
- Amend and recommit to transportation
- Print number 5536a
- Amend and recommit to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
ID Rules for Ride-Share Drivers
In Senate Committee · Transportation · Sponsor Patricia Fahy
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5536--C
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 6, 2019
Introduced by Sens. BRESLIN, CARLUCCI, KRUEGER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the identification of transportation network company drivers and vehicles
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 5 of section 1692 of the vehicle and traffic law, as added by section 2 of part AAA of chapter 59 of the laws of 2017, is amended to read as follows:
5. A TNC's digital network shall display a picture of the TNC driver, and provide the make, model, color and license plate number of the TNC vehicle utilized for providing the TNC prearranged trip before the passenger enters the TNC vehicle. The digital network shall also enable the passenger to scan, with the passenger's mobile device, the TNC vehicle's machine-readable code or image required by section sixteen hundred ninety-six of this article, prior to entering the TNC vehicle and prior to the release of payment, in order to confirm that the TNC vehicle is the one authorized for the passenger's TNC prearranged trip.
§ 2. Paragraph (c) of subdivision 1 and subdivision 5 of section 1696 of the vehicle and traffic law, as added by section 2 of part AAA of chapter 59 of the laws of 2017, are amended and a new subdivision 6 is added to read as follows:
(c) Upon review of all information received and retained by the TNC and upon verifying that the individual is not disqualified pursuant to this section from receiving a TNC driver permit, a TNC may issue a TNC driver permit to the applicant. The TNC shall review all information
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11064-07-9
S. 5536--C 2
received relating to such applicant and hold such information for six years along with a certification that such applicant qualifies to receive a TNC driver permit. A TNC shall issue a TNC driver identification card, in a form prescribed and approved by the commissioner, to each individual who qualifies to receive a TNC driver permit pursuant to this article. Such TNC driver identification card shall, at a minimum, include the name and photograph of the TNC driver and the license plate number of the TNC vehicle utilized for providing the TNC prearranged trip by such TNC driver, and shall be posted within such TNC vehicle in a manner that is legible, clear and conspicuous to passengers in all seating positions of such TNC vehicles.
5. The department shall promulgate regulations to ensure that each TNC vehicle is easily identified as such and that the TNC for which the TNC driver is providing the TNC service or TNC prearranged trip is distinguishable. Such marking shall be in such form as is approved by the commissioner, which shall at a minimum include an illuminated sign indicating the TNC for which the TNC driver is providing the TNC service or TNC prearranged trip, and shall be attached, affixed or displayed in such manner as he or she may prescribe by regulation.
6. The department shall promulgate regulations to require each TNC to provide each TNC driver with a machine-readable code or image, and to require such machine-readable code or image to be displayed on the outside of each TNC vehicle. Such machine-readable code or image shall be designed to allow the passenger to confirm, prior to entering a TNC vehicle, that such TNC vehicle is the authorized TNC vehicle for the passenger's TNC prearranged trip, using the TNC's digital network as provided by subdivision five of section sixteen hundred ninety-two of this article.
§ 3. Section 1691 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new subdivision 8 to read as follows:
8. "Machine-readable code or image" means an optical label containing information in a form legible and comprehensible through the use of mechanical or computing devices, including portable electronic devices and mobile telephones with built-in cameras and computing capability.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the iden- tification of transportation network company drivers and vehicles
Purpose or general idea of bill
Relates to the identification of transportation network company drivers and vehicles
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Amends subdivisions 1 and 5 of section 1696 of the vehicle and traffic law. Directs the Department of Motor Vehicles to promulgate regulations pertaining to prominently displayed identification informa- tion in a TNC vehicle. Directs the Department to promulgate rules regarding illuminated signs indicating a vehicle's TNC status.
Section 2. Sets the effective date.
Justification
In March 2019, University of South Carolina student Samantha Josephson was a victim of kidnapping and murder after entering a vehicle she believed was an Uber she had ordered. The vehicle in question was driven by the individual who has been charged with her murder.
The intent of this legislation is to ensure that TNCs are clearly marked as such in order to prevent similar misunderstandings that can have potentially tragic consequences. The bill mandates that all TNC vehicles be marked with an illuminated sign so that it is clear they are indeed ride sharing vehicles. The bill also mandates that information (photo, name and license plate number) about the driver be prominently displayed inside such a vehicle. This measure creates another layer of verifica- tion passenger can use to be certain they are getting into the correct vehicle.
Legislative history
This is a new bill.
Fiscal implications
To be determined
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.