National Limousine Association Asserts that Appalling Ride-Hailing Driver Crimes Must Be Met With Action

The NLA President Responds with Support for Fingerprint Background Checks Called for by Los Angeles Mayor

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Mar 21, 2016, 08:00 ET

NEW YORK, March 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Amid the arrest of an Uber driver for the alleged rape of a passenger in California, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti called for fingerprint scans and background checks for drivers of Uber, Lyft and limousine services in Los Angeles. The National Limousine Association (http://limo.org) applauds the initiative and supports full compliance with the proposed fingerprint-based background check regulations. Furthermore, the NLA challenges Uber and Lyft to follow suit and believes that the adoption of regulations such as these set a vital precedent for ride-hailing services and the "sharing economy" as a whole.

Ride Responsibly is an initiative established by the National Limousine Association to enlighten and inform the public at large, in an effort to ensure safer ground transportation. The campaign will bridge an industry-wide gap between the rights of passengers and the responsibility of service providers.

In response to the Uber driver being charged with felony forcible rape and two additional felony sexual assaults, President of the National Limousine Association (NLA), Gary Buffo states, "In little more than three weeks (in Kalamazoo and now Anaheim), two Uber drivers have been charged with heinous and severely violent crimes, resulting in six deaths, two counts of assault with intent to commit murder, eight firearms violations and rape. Deeply committed to the safety of our streets and our citizens, The National Limousine Association supports Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, L.A. Council President Herb Wesson and Councilman Paul Krekorian's call for fingerprint scans and background checks for drivers of all private ground transportation, both prearranged services and ride-hailing apps. Incidents such as these have proven that fingerprint-based background checks are vital to protect passengers, drivers and the public-at-large from harm. We insist that all drivers and operators assume the same level of accountability."

Much like the efforts of Mayor Garcetti and others concerned about a lack of universal regulation standards in the industry, the National Limousine Association, a not-for-profit organization responsible for and dedicated to representing the interests of the private driver ground transportation industry, launched Ride Responsibly™ (www.rideresponsibly.org) in 2015. The program is an unprecedented effort to bridge an industry-wide gap between the rights of passengers and the responsibilities of service providers, promoting best practices in regards to driver and passenger safety and duty of care.

"The growing push for fingerprint scans and background checks by legislators and law enforcement officials across the nation reflects our goal of effecting universal standards and best practices for car service drivers and operators through the Ride Responsibly™ initiative," said Mr. Buffo. "We must do all that we can to prevent crimes like these from becoming regular occurrences."

ABOUT THE NLA:

The National Limousine Association is a non-profit organization responsible for and dedicated to representing the interests of the private driver transportation industry at the global, national, state, and local level. It is the unified voice of this industry – linking transportation industry professionals from owners and operators to suppliers, manufacturers, regional and state limousine associations. With more than 2,000 NLA members, the Association is committed to exceeding expectations with regards to professionalism, transportation efficiency and safe riding.

For additional information on the NLA, please visit www.limo.org.

ABOUT RIDE RESPONSIBLY™:

The Ride Responsibly™ campaign is an unprecedented effort to bridge an industry-wide gap between the rights of passengers and the responsibilities of service providers. The campaign establishes best safety practices for prearranged car services and transportation network companies (TNCs), which include ride-hailing app car services, such as Lyft, Sidecar, Uber and Whisk. This initiative by the National Limousine Association is designed to help address growing public concern and provide a forum for all to voice their views on the ground transportation industry. The program focuses on educating both service providers and the public about regulations, legislation and best practices within the industry. The goal is to empower and inform the public at large, and drivers and operators alike with the necessary tools to Ride Responsibly™.

For additional information on Ride Responsibly™, please visit www.rideresponsibly.org.

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SOURCE National Limousine Association