.png){kind=logo}
DENVER, CO – The House Business Affairs & Labor Committee today passed legislation to establish new safety requirements for transportation network companies (TNCs), including Uber and Lyft. The Colorado Rideshare Safety & Accountability Act would require more frequent background checks and crack down on imposter accounts.
“We need the Colorado Rideshare Safety & Accountability Act to establish new policies to keep riders and drivers safe,” said Rep. Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn. “Our bill cracks down on imposter or shared accounts and requires driver background checks every six months. Accountability matters, and rideshare companies would be required to provide an annual report of all the crimes, including sexual assaults, that happen on their watch. Rideshares are integrated into our daily lives, but we need to do more to ensure riders and drivers arrive at their destination safely.”
“Far too many sexual assaults are happening in rideshares, and it’s important we establish better guidelines to protect riders and drivers,” said Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood. “When a rider requests a rideshare, they shouldn't have to worry if they’ll get to their destination safely. Our important bill works to address some of the persistent safety concerns with rideshares, including stronger driver vetting, clear disqualifications and more transparency about the crimes that happen in Colorado rideshares.”
The Colorado Rideshare Safety & Accountability Act (HB26-1424) would establish new safety requirements and policies designed to keep riders and drivers safe. The bill would apply to large-scale rideshare companies with more than 1,500 drivers and does not apply to HopSkipDrive. HB26-1424 passed committee by a vote of 8-5.
More frequent background checks
TNCs must procure privately administered background checks on drivers every six months after the initial criminal history record check.
Crackdown on imposter, shared and rented accounts
To help prevent multiple drivers from operating under one account, this bill would require TNCs to develop and enforce a company policy against impostor drivers, account sharing, and account renting.
Stronger driver vetting and clear disqualifications
Drivers with a history of convictions for assault, harassment, kidnapping, menacing, stalking, or domestic violence, or who had previously been caught account sharing, would be barred from driving with a rideshare company.
If a driver is barred by one rideshare company for serious safety concerns, they would be barred from driving for all TNCs operating in Colorado.
Audio and video recording
Riders and drivers would have the option of opting in to audio and video recording from pick-up to drop-off. Audio and video recording software must be integrated into the TNC platform, and TNCs cannot raise fares on riders solely on the basis of opting in to audio or video recording. No third-party recording devices would be allowed.
Robust complaint procedures and survivor updates
If a rider submits a complaint to a TNC about their driver, the TNC must provide up-to-date information to the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to investigate complaints. Additionally, the TNC must respond to a complaint-related subpoena or search warrant within 72 hours.
Survivors may also opt in to receive updates about their complaint.
If a complaint is filed against a driver, the TNC must procure a new background check before the driver can drive again.
Improved transparency and accountability
TNCs must provide annual reports to the PUC, the Attorney General’s Office and every member of the general assembly. These reports must include the number of homicides, assaults, verbal threats, and accidents, as well as any instances of stalking, harassment, theft and discrimination.
The PUC may penalize a TNC that violates any provision of HB26-1424 up to $1,500 per violation.
TNCs must provide ongoing driver and rider safety training based on rules adopted by the PUC.
Additionally, TNCs would need to establish and enforce certain policies that:
Prevent sex assault, physical assault and homicide.
Prohibit the transportation of unaccompanied minors, unless they are part of an authorized family account.
Require food and beverages offered during a ride to be factory-sealed.
Educate drivers on new safety policies.
Prevent crimes against drivers by riders.
Do not allow the collection of any rider or driver biometric data.
More than 15,500 Uber and Lyft riders and drivers were sexually assaulted between 2017 and 2022. This number only represents the number of sexual assaults that were reported. On average, only 30 percent of sexual assaults are reported.
Countless instances of sexual assault have happened in Ubers and Lyfts in Colorado, including a former Denver Lyft driver sentenced to 290 years in prison last year for charges related to kidnapping, sexual assault, and attempted sexual assault of more than a dozen women over four years.
In 2024, an Aurora Lyft driver was sentenced to nine years in prison for sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl. Last week, an Arvada Uber driver was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault against a passenger. Arvada police believe there are likely more victims in this case, as the driver used multiple vehicles over his more than 1,000 rides.