ALBANY – While Governor Cuomo says ridesharing upstate requires legislative approval, Assemblyman Kevin Cahill (D-Kingston) said Monday there is nothing stopping it from operating right now in many places in the state.
Cahill said the ridesharing services need only apply for the same operating licenses as a taxi or limousine service does.
“Jurisdictions that have exerted their authorities over taxis and limousines can also authorize the use of ridesharing that rely upon a telephone application,” Cahill said. “There is no prohibition against that. Where Lyft and Uber ran into a problem was they were trying to bypass local regulations and do it without any form of regulatory authority whatsoever. What the attorney said is, ‘no,’ if you are not going to be a taxi and limousine then you are going to be required to get your own insurance and they have, to date, not been able to do that.”
Cahill said the legislature and governor should work together to authorize state insurance plans specifically for app-based ride hailing services, but the system in place would work right now.
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