MARYLAND - The state of Maryland and Uber are battling over background checks. The popular ridesharing service says it will be forced to stop doing business in the state, if regulators force it to adopt a new mandate to fingerprint all drivers.
Supporters say it will increase safety, but Uber says it's already doing more detail background checks than just fingerprints alone.
The company says if they are forced to start fingerprinting drivers, they will pull out of Maryland.
Uber could be forced to stop service in Maryland
A Maryland state law passed last year that enforces Uber and other ride-sharing companies like Lyft have to start using fingerprinting when they do criminal background checks for drivers.
Fingerprinting is already required for taxi drivers, and state officials who support the idea say it will help weed out criminals from driving passengers. A spokesman for Uber says it pulls court records if a driver comes up on a judicial system data base.
Uber also says it's serious about leaving Maryland if they're forced to instate the system. They have already pulled out of Austin, San Antonio, Texas and Broward County, Florida.
Hearings over the debate were held Thursday at Maryland Public Service Commission in Baltimore, and they are scheduled to run through Tuesday. A final decision on the move is due to be made by December 15.
(fox5dc.com)
