Braintree Could Halt Uber and Lyft Service in Town

The Braintree Town Council took the first steps Tuesday night in telling Uber, Lyft, and other ridesharing companies to play by the same rules as other transportation services or hit the road.

The council voted to refer the issue of rideshare taxis to the Rules and Ordinance Committee and to send a letter to the Board of Licensing Commissions asking them to look at companies like Uber and Lyft and report on the possibility of issuing them a cease and desist letter.

The vote came after the council heard from Braintree Best Cab owner Greg Najjar, who said that companies like Uber and Lyft have cost him 35 percent of his business since last July.

“I’m on the verge of going out of business unless something is done about Uber and Lyft,” he said of his 25-year-old business.

Najjar said that Uber’s ability to provide transportation services despite not having to abide by the same insurance and employment regulations as cab companies has created an uneven playing field.

Councilor Charles Kokoros issued the initial motion to ask the licensing commissions to issue a cease and desist letter, before Councilor Shannon Hume offered a compromise that was amended into the final motion.

“What is going on right now with Uber should be analyzed. We should send a letter to the licensing board and tell them to tell Uber to not operate in Braintree,” Kokoros said.

In past situations, Uber has said that they are not subject to existing regulation because they are not a standard taxi service, arguing that they only connect riders and drivers through their app, something they say is not covered by current regulations.

Council members Michael Owens and Charles Ryan, who both voted to ask the licensing commissions for a report, said they needed more time to gather information before fully committing to a request for a cease and desist.

The call for action comes at a time where cities have attempted to regulate companies like Uber. The company has been criticized for engaging in surge pricing that is partially based on demand while cabs are not allowed to change their prices.