Uber is back. This time for good, it seems.
On Thursday, senator agreed to add a major amendment to AB175, a bill that changes rules about lawsuits in taxicab crashes.
The amendment resurrects rules for ‘transportation network companies’ that allow people to hail a ride using a smartphone.
The new language creates a 3 percent tax on the total fare for rides through cab companies or ride-hailing companies like Uber. It also changes provisions about insurance and background checks.
Las Vegas Review-Journal columnist Steve Sebelius told KNPR’s State of Nevada that it is an amazing story of how Uber went from being illegal in the state to another option for people looking to get somewhere.
“The taxi industry went from being the only people who could legally offer rides for hire to now having to compete with Uber and having to pay a tax they didn’t have to pay before,” Sebelius said.
Democrats originally opposed the amendment, and voted it against it, because it didn’t include FBI background checks. That problem has been solved. Sebelius said a behind-the-scenes effort from both sides brought the compromise together.
“It turns out during all these debates behind the scenes Democrats and Republicans were working together,” Sebelius said.
The question is whether the tax part of the bill will stay intact when it moves through the Assembly, where taxes are less popular.
Steve Sebelius, columnist, Las Vegas Review-Journal