CEA Commends D.C. City Council on Pro-Consumer, Pro-Ridesharing Vote

ARLINGTON, VA -- October 9, 2014: The following statement can be attributed to Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), regarding the D.C. City Council’s passage of a ridesharing legalization bill on Tuesday:

"The D.C. Council's unanimous decision is a great step forward and a true confirmation of the value of innovative technologies like Lyft and Uber. We appreciate the Council's efforts in ensuring consumers continue to have access to safe and reliable transportation options, and look forward to the bill becoming law later this month."

The Transportation Network Services Innovation Act of 2014, first introduced in April by Council members Mary Cheh and David Grosso, requires ridesharing drivers to be covered by an insurance policy of at least $1 million whenever their apps are switched on. The bill also requires the ridesharing companies to conduct criminal background checks on their affiliated drivers and to clearly mark cars as ridesharing vehicles.

CEA’s Innovation Movement spearheaded two successful grassroots advocacy campaigns this year to stand up for ridesharing in states of Virginia and Illinois.