Broward Commissioners Vote To Regulate Uber, Lyft
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FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) -- Broward County commissioners voted Tuesday to regulate ride share services like Uber and Lyft.
More than 60 people spoke at a lively commission meeting on an agenda item that asked commissioners to decide whether to take the ride share companies to court.
Click here to watch Joan Murray's report.
They decided instead to come up with a set of rules and regulations to keep the public safe and ensure that the county receives revenue as they do with cab companies.
Before the meeting Tuesday, the county attorney had sent a warning letter to the ride share companies asking them to cease operations. They refused.
Cab drivers argue that the technology based operations are undercutting their business.
"You can't let people come in unregistered. It's not fair," argued one cab company operator.
However, Uber drivers told the commission that they are offering a cheaper, reliable service for consumers.
The widow of Congressman Clay Shaw had nothing but accolades for Uber.
She told commissioners she had left her wallet in an Uber car, and the driver returned it to her.
"He was a gentleman. What are we if we can't have free enterprise and competition?" wondered Emilie Shaw.
Ft. Lauderdale based Uber driver Ira Wernikoff says a cab ride from Miami to Hallandale would cost a traveler $100 dollars. He says the same trip with Uber would be a mere $35 dollars.
With Uber the driver keeps 80 percent of the revenue and 20 percent goes to the company.
Commissioners said they will draft a new ordinance to regulate the ride share companies over the next sixty days.
In two weeks time they plan to draft a fee structure they will impose on ride share operators who frequent the Ft. Lauderdale Hollywood International airport.
The revenue similar to what the county collects from cab operators helps fund county programs.
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