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Uber, Lyft suspend service in Austin over background checks
Original Publication Date: May 9, 2016 2:25AM
Publication Updated: April 28, 2025 10:50AM
AUSTIN, Texas – Uber and Lyft have suspended ride-hailing service in Austin after voters decided against overturning city requirements that include fingerprint-based background checks for their drivers.
The Austin American-Statesman (http://atxne.ws/1T794yk ) reports that the two companies suspended service Monday morning. Nearly 56 per cent of voters rejected a proposition Saturday that would have repealed rules the Austin City Council approved in December.
Under the rules, drivers must undergo fingerprint-based background checks by Feb. 1, 2017. Uber and Lyft prefer name-based checks. Their vehicles must be identified for hire and they cannot stop in traffic lanes for passenger drop-offs and pick-ups.
The companies messaged their customers Monday to say they are not operating in Austin.
Uber and Lyft had poured nearly $9 million into their campaign to overturn the rules.
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Information from: Austin American-Statesman, http://www.statesman.com
News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
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