Uber will take Corpus Christi off its digital app platform at 10 p.m. Sunday, March 13 after the city council passed an ordinance requiring Uber drivers to get additional fingerprints and background checks. Courtesy image
Uber is out of Corpus Christi as of 10 p.m. Sunday, March 13, a spokesman announced the day after the city council approved a new ordinance regulating transportation network companies. The new regulations, which go into effect Monday, March 14, requires drivers for ride sharing companies like Uber and Lyft to be fingerprinted and have background checks by the city.
Uber announced the move to its driver partners in a letter Wednesday emailed afternoon, saying the new regulations would have made it "harder for partners to earn extra money on a flexible schedule and more difficult for riders to request a reliable ride." It was signed by Sarfraz Maredia, Uber general manager for south and east Texas.
Last week, Maredia sent a letter to the Mayor and the city council asking them to delay the vote on the ordinace and "take the time to work with us to create a TNC ordinance that makes sense for Corpus Christi and allows for ridesharing to continue in this great city."
The letter pointed out that most other cities had embraced TNCs.
"It is our hope that the City of Corpus Christi will follow their lead and adopt modern regulations that allow us to continue to operate," the leader concluded.
According to the letter, Corpus Christi residents and visitors request thousands of rides each month.
"The proposed ordinance would require drivers to complete unnecessary and duplicative steps that make it difficult for them to earn extra money and hurt our ability to ensure that riders have access to reliable and affordable transportation," the letter continued. "We know from experience in other markets that these rules can have a devastating impact on our ability to provide the experience that riders and drivers have come to love and expect."
Around 25 supporters of the service came before the city council on Tuesday, March 8, asking council members to reconsider or delay their vote. Maredia expressed his gratitude to the supporters in the letter.
"We want to thank all of you who wrote to your local representatives or spoke in front of City Council to explain how Uber has made a positive impact in Corpus Christi," the letter said. " Despite your support, the City Council voted to adopt these regulations. As a result, we have made the difficult decision to cease operations in Corpus Christi effective at 10 p.m. on Sunday, March 13."
The letter stressed a point that compelled council member Mark Scott to cast the only vote against the ordinance, which passed 7-1.
"With this vote, Corpus Christi will be less safe," Scott said, adding that cities using the service have reported a drop in DUI's among young people, who make up the majority of the company's customer base.
"Spring break is coming and all the college students use Uber," said Duane Baker speaking before the council March 8. Baker's wife drives for Uber. "Students don't use taxis. The city is safer with Uber on the streets because it means less drunken drivers on the roads."
City officials took a different tactic on the day after the controversal ordinance was approved. The Corpus Christi Police Department sent out an announcment that taxi inspector Berardo Cantu was prepared to help potential drivers meet the new requirements.
"The Corpus Christi City Council passed an ordinance yesterday that officially makes Corpus Christi open for business when it comes to Transportation Network Companies," the announcement read. "The Taxi Inspector for the City of Corpus Christi extends a warm welcome to anybody that is interested in driving for a company that will be providing this service to the citizens of our community."
The city also pointed out that TNCs are now able to operate legally in the city. Although Uber has been in business in the city since 2014, it has technically been operating illegally. Until the new ordinance goes into effect, all ride sharing drivers are expected to meet the same requirements as traditional taxi drivers and companies.
The new ordinance does lighten some of the regulations. Uber driver-partners would not be required to pay a $2,500 fee per driver to operate in the city. They would have to have a sign on both sides of the car with the name of the company and a phone number, but not on the back as taxis are required to do. Uber would also not be required to have a physical building for its offices in the city.
The controversial part of the oridnance is the requirement for background checks, which Uber says it already does.
Mayor Nelda Martinez disagreed.
"If something horrible happened to one of my citizens because I didn't require an extra $38 [for a fingerprint and background check], I couldn't live with myself," Martinez said at the meeting.
