Braintree State Rep. Criticizes Town Ruling on Uber and Lyft

A state representative is criticizing a decision by the town’s licensing commissioners to issue cease and desist letters to Uber and Lyft drivers that operate in Braintree.

State Rep. Mark Cusack, who represents Braintree, called the vote a rush to judgment, an unenforceable action, and detrimental to attracting new business.

“I’m extremely disappointed to say the least in the board’s action against transportation network companies (TNC),” he said. “There was no need to register this position. It was in the town’s best interest for the state to set up regulation and see where they could work with it.”

Last week, the board voted to issue the letter to any driver working for a TNC that did not comply with the town’s ordinances for hackney and livery vehicles. The vote requires Uber and Lyft drivers operating in Braintree to comply with the same standards and regulation as a standard cab company. Requirements include a background check and vehicle inspection by the Braintree Police Department, the housing of the vehicle in Braintree, and a hackney license from the town.

The state representative echoed the message from the companies at last week’s meeting, stating that the current regulations do not take into consideration the new companies.

“They’re not up to date or suitable to regulate these new types of companies. It’s frustrating when (the commissioners) wish what they were rather than what they are,” he said. “I’m not saying don’t regulate them but this has to be dealt with on the state level.”

Cusack also questioned whether it’s possible to enforce the decision from a police perspective, considering that drivers for TNCs use their own cars and do not have signage on their vehicles.

“They’re out of their mind if they think our police department is going to put up road blocks or search for drivers. We got bigger fish to fry than to find Uber and Lyft drivers.”

At the state house, officials are working on new legislation proposed by Governor Charlie Baker to regulate TNCs. A public hearing is expected in the near future.

Do you agree or disagree with last week’s vote? Tell us in the comments section!