House Passes Legislation To Streamline Regulations For Ride-Sharing Services

Rep. Monica Youngblood

STATE News:

SANTA FE – The New Mexico House of Representatives passed legislation Thursday to regulate ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft in New Mexico. HB 272, sponsored by Rep. Monica Youngblood, R-Albuquerque, passed by a bipartisan 56-8 vote.  

The ridesharing services, which were introduced in Albuquerque and Santa Fe over the past year, have expanded safe, reliable transportation options for New Mexicans.

“Ride-sharing services provide a safe ride home,” Youngblood said. “Putting this law on the books will not only expand ridesharing services — it will give New Mexicans even better transportation options and help reduce drunken driving.”

One study found that ride-sharing services are keeping the roads safer. The study, released by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) in conjunction with Uber, showed that ridesharing is helping to significantly tackle drunken driving because people have another convenient and safe option to get a ride home.

Since launching in California in 2012, ridesharing services are estimated to have helped prevent 1,800 crashes in the highest risk group for drunken driving.

Unfortunately, the patchwork of current regulations in New Mexico does not fit the innovative ridesharing or Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) model. TNCs are using technologies and creating opportunities that did not exist five years ago. That is why this legislation would streamline regulations in New Mexico and codify the highest safety standards for ridesharing services, while at the same time giving New Mexicans better transportation options.

“I will continue to work with Sen. Griego and his colleagues to get this bill to the Governor’s desk,” Youngblood said.

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