Ridesharing Rules Make it Through North Carolina Senate

A deal brokered between North Carolina lawmakers and ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft to place regulations on the app-based companies has passed the Senate and will go to the House.

The Senate passed a bill July 23 expanding regulations imposed on taxicabs, such as requiring background checks and liability insurance, to rideshare drivers operating from their personal cars. In addition, the bill allows ridesharing company to begin operating at airports, a market from which they had previously been barred.

Taxi companies oppose rideshare services, saying that the low-cost providers cut into their profits and are dangerous for riders.

Riders can hail the cars through apps on their cells phones.

Uber currently operates in at least eight cities in North Carolina.