At least four Uber drivers cited by police at Los Angeles International Airport have serious criminal records that would make them ineligible for a taxi permit in the city, the Los Angeles Times reports.
The men have been convicted of child exploitation, manslaughter, driving under the influence, and identity theft, court records show. The information was presented to a city official by a representative of the taxi industry, as the Los Angeles City Council looks into whether it should assert jurisdiction over a new permit process that would let Uber and other app-based ride companies legally pick up passengers at LAX, the Times reports. The Times says it was able to independently confirm that the records were accurate. "These are cases that reinforce the need to have this kind of dialog," said Councilman Paul Krekorian. "They're very good examples of why it's important."
The taxi industry is against the permit process, saying it's unfair because Uber drivers are held to a lower standard than licensed taxi drivers. Uber's chief security officer, Joe Sullivan, said drivers cannot work for the company if they have been convicted of any felonies or violent or sexual crimes in the past seven years, and said that while "every system of background checks that is available today has its flaws," Uber's "stacks up well" against the taxi industry's.
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