Antone's Nightclub
TNCs for Public Safety
RECEIVED Fri., Jan. 8, 2016
Dear Editor,
No doubt, TNC [transportation network company] services help reduce DUIs. The Real Estate Council of Austin suggested that Uber and Lyft should stop providing services at midnight on New Year's precisely when the risk of DUIs are greatest [“A Recommendation for Public Safety,” News, Jan. 1].
It's unconscionable for RECA to risk public safety by supporting attempts by two wealthy corporations to squash another public safety policy: fingerprint background checks for TNC drivers.
RECA is willfully complicit in Uber and Lyft's strategy to force the Council to back down on fingerprint background checks by threatening to leave Austin. If they leave Austin, you can be sure that they will blame the Council for any increase in DUIs.
TNC services increase public safety by reducing DUIs and fingerprint background checks increase public safety by ensuring that TNC drivers have been vetted by industry-standard methods. One public safety benefit should not be pitted against another, particularly when corporate profit is the primary motive.
We can and should have TNC services that help increase public safety by reducing DUIs and ensuring that drivers have been scrutinized by fingerprint background checks.
If Uber and Lyft succeed in their attempts to stop fingerprint background checks, other corporations will be emboldened to use their considerable wealth to impose their will on our city.
No doubt, TNC [transportation network company] services help reduce DUIs. The Real Estate Council of Austin suggested that Uber and Lyft should stop providing services at midnight on New Year's precisely when the risk of DUIs are greatest [“A Recommendation for Public Safety,” News, Jan. 1].
It's unconscionable for RECA to risk public safety by supporting attempts by two wealthy corporations to squash another public safety policy: fingerprint background checks for TNC drivers.
RECA is willfully complicit in Uber and Lyft's strategy to force the Council to back down on fingerprint background checks by threatening to leave Austin. If they leave Austin, you can be sure that they will blame the Council for any increase in DUIs.
TNC services increase public safety by reducing DUIs and fingerprint background checks increase public safety by ensuring that TNC drivers have been vetted by industry-standard methods. One public safety benefit should not be pitted against another, particularly when corporate profit is the primary motive.
We can and should have TNC services that help increase public safety by reducing DUIs and ensuring that drivers have been scrutinized by fingerprint background checks.
If Uber and Lyft succeed in their attempts to stop fingerprint background checks, other corporations will be emboldened to use their considerable wealth to impose their will on our city.
David King