(Carl Court/Getty Images)
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — After T he Salem News reported that more than 30,000 applicants to Uber and Lyft did not pass state criminal screenings despite passing the companies' background checks, a Boston state representative is calling for new legislation requiring the drivers to be fingerprinted.
Allston-Brighton State Representative Michael Moran wants the checks potential drivers undergo to me more comprehensive.
"I think we need to take this another step, the same way New York has done, and require Uber and Lyft drivers—any TNC [Transportation Network Company] that comes in—should be required to have background checks for their drivers," Moran said.
Those 30,000 rejected ride-share applicants—15 percent of last year's total applicant pool—were rejected for various reasons. According to the Salem News report : More than 5,000 had a past violent crime in their history; more than 900 had a past sex crime or were registered sex offenders; almost 10,000 were under 21; about 1,500 didn't have active drivers' licenses; about 1,500 had multiple driving offenses.
"We have a number of kids, young college kids that come into this city and this state every September," Moran said. "The overall safety of those kids when they're away from their parents falls on us," Moran said.