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Clark County Commission: Ride-Sharing Drivers Need Business Licenses

Should the people driving the mustached Lyft cars be able to drive without a business license?
Jeff Chiu/AP

Should the people driving the mustached Lyft cars be able to drive without a business license?

Ride-sharing companies such as Uber and Lyft have been in operation since Sept. 15, but they haven't been "in business," according to Clark County Commission Chairman Steve Sisolak. 

Sisolak has proposed an ordinance that would require individual drivers with ride-sharing companies to get a county business license.

Since drivers of these companies are considered independent contractors rather than employees, they must obtain a license like all other independent contractors, he said. 

"Every business that operates in Clark County, every business, has a business license." Sisolak said, "And it is unfair for the tax payers to have to absorb the cost of people who are going to want to operate a business without registering." 

Sisolak compared it to a realtor, who is also an independent contractor, but still needs a business license. 

Since they began operating, drivers  have received more than 500 citations at McCarran International Airport, and obtaining the business licenses would allow the drivers to pick up and drop off passengers at the airport. 

Under the proposed ordinance, each driver would pay a semi-annual fee of $50. They would allow the county to have more information on the drivers of the companies. 

Companies began operating in Nevada once obtaining approval from the state, but did not have the go-ahead from the county because of the licenses. 

Sisolak said he wants the ride-sharing companies to be successful, but "every other business follows the rules that are set down."

The county business license proposal is up for a vote on Oct. 20. 

 

Steve Sisolak, Clark County Commission Chairman 

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Prior to taking on the role of Broadcast Operations Manager in January 2021, Rachel was the senior producer of KNPR's State of Nevada program for 6 years. She helped compile newscasts and provided coverage for and about the people of Southern Nevada, as well as major events such as the October 1 shooting on the Las Vegas strip, protests of racial injustice, elections and more. Rachel graduated with a bachelor's degree of journalism and mass communications from New Mexico State University.