HARTFORD, CT —There's a new call for Uber and Lyft drivers to be fingerprinted.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said he's written to both ride-sharing companies demanding more be done to protect riders.
The action comes after a report filed by The Washington Post found Uber prioritized liability concerns over safety.
He says not only are reports of sexual assaults disregarded but those drivers are still behind the wheel.
In the letter to Uber he says, “Uber’s handling of these claims raises serious concerns about whether your company takes sexual misconduct seriously.”
He goes on to raise concerns about Uber’s responses to the situation saying, “I am further alarmed by Uber’s public statements about this issue, which indicate a brazenly careless attitude about your responsibility to your customers.”
In his letter to Lyft he says, “ Victims of sexual assault by your drivers also report difficulties communicating with representatives of your company due to both the labyrinthine complaint procedures and an inadequate response to complaints.”
Lyft responded by arguing fingerprint background checks rely on arrest records rather than convictions.Uber does daily checks instead.
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