Latest news with #RecordMyRide
USA Today
25-04-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Uber threatens to leave state if new legislation passes: Here's what to know
Uber threatens to leave state if new legislation passes: Here's what to know Show Caption Hide Caption Ninth annual 'Uber Lost & Found' list released Divorce papers and live animals like rabbits and lobsters are among the bizarre items on Uber's 2025 "Lost & Found" list. Uber said it will pull out of Colorado if a bill aimed at improving rideshare safety becomes law. House Bill 25-1291, spearheaded by state Rep. Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn, looks to require rideshare drivers to make audio and video recordings of trips and prohibiting drivers from offering passengers drinks and snacks. The bill would also require companies to conduct more thorough background checks on drivers and track and report violent incidents. The bill was introduced into the legislature in January 2025 after Willford filed a lawsuit against Lyft alleging she was sexually assaulted by a man pretending to be a rideshare driver in February 2024, according to reporting from KMGH-TV, an ABC affiliate in Denver. In an emailed statement obtained by USA TODAY Friday, Uber called the bill "a deeply flawed proposal, which if implemented would leave us no choice but cease operations in Colorado." Uber claims HB25-1291 "threatens user privacy by requiring every trip to be recorded, imposes major technical and financial burdens, and offers no clear safety benefit in return. We support real, evidence-based safety policy - not legislation that checks a box but fails to deliver," Uber said in the statement. "As written, this bill not only misses the mark, it risks doing more harm than good." Willford called Uber threatening to leave Colorado a "cynical and disheartening move by a multi-billion dollar company to turn their back on survivors rather than implement real safety measures" in a statement posted to her Instagram account Thursday. "We have worked with Uber in good faith for months and accepted many of their amendment requests - including a full rewrite of the bill," the statement continued. "For years, Uber has checked the box on safety, but time after time failed to deliver for victims." "It's clear Uber won't stand up for safety so they can continue to maximize profits rather than address the horrible incidents that change the lives of riders and drivers forever," Willford concluded in her statement. In its emailed statement, Uber said it has "led the industry on safety from day one - backed by technology, transparency, and real accountability." Uber points to features like the audio and video recording, RideCheck, and Emergency Button as examples of safety features contained within its app. Uber said its Record My Ride feature in the app enables drivers to record video using the front-facing camera on their smartphone, similar to a dashcam. The feature has been live in the US since last year, Uber said. Audio recording is also available for both riders and drivers during a trip in the Uber app. When a driver or rider uses the Emergency Button within the Uber app, the car's make and model, license plate, and GPS location are made available to 911 dispatchers, according to Uber's website. The Colorado Sun reports the bill passed the House by a 59-6 vote earlier this month and currently awaits a hearing on the Senate floor. The legislative session ends May 7. Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Yahoo
Rideshare drivers call for more security against ‘tap and snatch' robberies
MOTT HAVEN, The Bronx (PIX11) — Rideshare drivers on Monday called for more protection from so-called tap and snatch robberies, where people pose as customers for services like Uber and Lyft, and then access drivers' phones, which they drain thousands of dollars. At least 22 such robberies have happened citywide in the last eight weeks, with robbers stealing anywhere from $1,300 to $10,000 in each incident. More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State The New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers on Monday formally called for greater security measures. Fernando Mateo, the official spokesperson for the state federation, said that the way the tap and snatch robberies take place can be simple, and costly. A person posing as a passenger will get into the rideshare, and then come with a ruse. They'll say, ''Oh, I changed my mind. I want to go to, um, Smithsonian, whatever address, but let me put it in your phone,'' Mateo said. Then, once the robber has the phone, he continued, 'Then they put a gun to your head and say, 'Give me the password, give me your account number.'' It's access to the driver's rideshare account. The taxi federation contends that if rideshare companies give drivers separate phones for business use only, the drivers can keep their personal phones, including their bank accounts, private. Robbery pattern targets Uber and Lyft drivers in NYC For its part, Uber, for which most of the robberies have occurred, would not say that it would provide separate phones for drivers. It did say, however, in a statement: 'These reports are extremely alarming. Driver safety is paramount to the Uber experience, and we're constantly investing in new safety features, like our rider verification program, and Record My Ride, to help make the platform safer and build trust. We encourage all drivers to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement, and to us, and cancel a trip if they ever feel unsafe. We're in touch with the NYPD on these terrible incidents, and will continue to support their investigation however we can to help bring those responsible to justice.' Meanwhile, the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers is offering a $2,000 reward for anyone with information leading to an arrest of the tap and snatch robbery suspects. The federation is also calling for federal law enforcement involvement since the robberies apparently involve bank fraud. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Yahoo
Robbery pattern targets Uber and Lyft drivers in NYC
NEW YORK (PIX11) – Police are asking for help in finding four people they say are responsible for a robbery pattern targeting rideshare drivers. Most victims had their phones stolen from them and, in some cases, money as well. Police say they are behind 22 grand larcenies targeting Uber, Lyft, and Revel drivers. More Local News The incidents occurred between Nov. 26 and Feb. 1 on Staten Island, Brooklyn and Queens. The victims range from 20-68 years old. Police say that in most instances, the suspects entered rideshare vehicles and asked the driver to use the phone to change the drop-off location or look up an address. In some cases- the phones were forcibly removed. Once they had the phones, police say the suspects ran off, sometimes in a waiting vehicle, most times by foot. Drivers are reacting. 'It's scary it is. Try not to give my phone to a passenger. I try to keep it,' said Kamron Zafar, an Uber and Lyft driver. In one case, a knife was pulled on a victim. In four other cases, the victims were punched, pushed, or kicked, resulting in minor injuries. 'I think it's bad. Drivers have to be more diligent,' said Kristina Cumba, an Uber Lyft driver said. 'Just be careful. Be careful who you pick up, and just be vigilant.' Police also say that in at least 10 of the 22 cases, the suspects made transactions on the victims' phones totaling more than $36,000, ranging from $1,300 to $10,000. In some instances, the suspects also got away with cash, AirPods, or dash cameras. In a statement, Uber tells PIX11 News, 'These reports are extremely alarming. Driver safety is paramount to the Uber experience, and we're constantly investing in new safety features, like our rider verification program and Record My Ride, to help make the platform safer and build trust. We encourage all drivers to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement, and to us, and cancel a trip if they ever feel unsafe. We're in touch with the NYPD and will continue to support their investigation however we can to help bring those responsible to justice.' Lyft tells PIX11 News it has not found reports and cannot confirm that any incidents occurred on the Lyft platform. The company adds the behavior is unacceptable and not tolerated on the Lyft platform. It says drivers should report instances so the company can investigate and take necessary measures. Justice for App Workers, a coalition of organizations representing drivers and delivery workers, reminds drivers never to share their phones. Adalgisa Payero-Diarra, with the group, says, 'We always encourage drivers if they can afford to have a camera because once they have a camera, they'll hesitate to do anything because they're being recorded.' The rideshare drivers we spoke to say the incidents are concerning. Zafar says, 'I have Face ID/face lock. Try to protect myself that way.' Cumba said, 'I have everything secured with two-factor authentication, face ID.' Anyone who knows anything is asked to call crime stoppers. Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
