New Hampshire, Rhode Island Approve Ridesharing Laws

A state law requiring criminal background checks on drivers of ride-hailing companies took effect last month in New Hampshire with Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan’s signature.

The law also requires ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft to provide commercial insurance and have a zero-tolerance policy of drug and alcohol use by drivers.

The new law removes the patchwork of ridesharing regulations that cities including Manchester and Portsmouth had enacted, NHPR reports.

Most of the provisions in the so-called Uber bill mirror existing practices of Uber, which supported the legislation.

The law bars ridesharing companies from hiring as drivers anyone who has been convicted in the past seven years of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, using a motor vehicle to commit a felony, sexual offenses and crimes involving property damage.

“Before you have a transportation company or that type of infrastructure industry move in anywhere, they want to have a regulatory package in place so they know what the rules of the game are,” said Steven Smith, a Republican in the House who chairs the transportation committee and sponsored the bill.

Hassan said ridesharing companies are making the state more attractive to students, young professionals and visitors. She said the new law will ensure that Uber and other companies “have a permanent home here in New Hampshire.

Rhode Island’s legislature has also passed a bill to legalize and regulate rideshring app companies such as Uber. This law would put Uber, Lyft and similar companies under the oversight of the state’s public utilities commission, require driver background checks, set minimum insurance requirements and establish an annual $30,000 permit for companies with at least 200 drivers.

Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo has supported it.

Massachusetts lawmakers are also considering legislation.