Plaia Testifies on Bill that Would Consider Regulating Uber

(Above - Joe Plaia consults with state officials in Concord)

(Concord – March 11th, 2015) Portsmouth attorney and public safety advocate Joe Plaia, who has been leading the charge for tighter consumer and safety protections in the emerging ride-sharing sector, added his voice to the chorus of support for a bill introduced by Sen. Martha Fuller Clark (D-Portsmouth). The proposal, SB 254, would create a study committee with a wide-ranging mandate to explore what actions the state should take regarding these new services. This committee would meet over the coming months and take testimony about the issues confronting cities and towns when so-called ‘sharing economy’ firms begin doing business in their jurisdiction.

“I urge the New Hampshire General Court to create this study committee and to take an exhaustive look at the implications of these new business models,” Plaia argues. “My reasons for believing that the State of New Hampshire is best positioned to adequately regulate these business model are 1) only the State can level the playing field across the state, 2) pre-empt attempts by Uber to cherry-pick towns that lack the resources to do the necessary background research, and 3) protect to all of New Hampshire from predatory vendors and bad actors.”

Clark’s legislation is, in part, a response to a controversy currently playing out in her native Portsmouth. Uber drivers have begun providing service without having to provide the same proof of insurance, police record, and other background information to the City of Portsmouth. Several other cities in New Hampshire, including Nashua and Manchester, are also considering how Uber and similar organizations should be regulated. The study committee proposed will take testimony and could recommend statewide legislation.