“Will you submit a list of private insurance companies that allow your drivers to work for Sidecar?” asked DCTC chair Ron Linton. Much hemming and hawing from Stephens.
“Why should part-time drivers be required to carry full-time commercial insurance?” asked Stephens passionately and rhetorically.
“Because they’re doing it for money,” deadpanned Linton in response. “If they were doing it for free, they wouldn’t need commercial insurance.”
Aside from insurance, another point raised between Stephens and Linton centered on the DCTC’s need for a way to identify ‘ridesharing’ vehicles on the street. Stephens wondered why the agency would need a list of Sidecar vehicles.
“I deal in the real world,” admonished Linton. “If we don’t know who is approved to drive for Sidecar, then we can’t crack down on the increasing number of vehicles now flooding D.C. streets that pretend to be private sedans but are not affiliated with any (ridesharing) company.”
“But those would be gypsy cabs!” blurted out Stephens.
The crowd of taxi drivers roared.