More to it than just fingerprinting. It gives taxis an advantage over ride sharing, not just evening the playing field. Financial reporting requirements that are ridiculous, requirements that make the whole 'internet company with local employees' model impossible, requirements taxis don't have to obey. Copied from the source linked above.

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Link to Original Ordinance (Now Stays Law)

Link to Prop 1 Ordinance (Which Failed)

TNC = Transportation Network Company

There's a lot of stuff in 20151217-075 that most people including myself find sensible - in fact MOST of the sensible regulations would've stayed if Prop 1 passed. However, there's also a lot of stuff that makes it very difficult for TNCs to get drivers and would add huge operating cost overhead (especially if other cities also adopt similar laws). In addition, there are some laws that no private company would ever agree to as it makes public revenues and operating information public.

After reading this it makes sense why the TNCs spent so much on Prop 1. It actually makes me wonder if GetMe has even read the original legislation, because any sensible CEO would not agree to operate in a city with these laws.

Here's the ones that stuck out to me:

§ 13-2-516 DATA REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

(B) A TNC shall provide the following data, recorded in four-hour blocks, to the director on the last day of each month:

(1) number of trips requested for service;

(2) number of trips requested, but not serviced, according to zip code;

(3) number of vehicles logged into the TNC platform;

(4) number of pick-ups and drop-offs according to zip code;

(5) accessible vehicle trips requested and serviced;

(6) accessible vehicle trips requested and not serviced; and

(7) amount of time that surge pricing is in effect.

(C) Driver hours logged onto the TNC platform shall be recorded daily and reported to the director on the last day of each month.

(D) A TNC shall record the following data monthly and report it to the director on the last day of each month:

(1) number of trips completed and passengers transported;

(2) gross receipts generated;

(3) progress on meeting the accessibility needs of the public; and

(4) total hours and miles driven by compliant drivers and for all drivers.

All of this would have added overhead in building reporting systems that service these laws and would make public very private information as to how well each TNC was doing as a company.

§13-2-521 INSPECTIONS

(A) Before operating a vehicle under a TNC platform, a vehicle must successfully pass an inspection by a mechanic certified by the State of Texas, and approved by the director, to perform state inspections. Inspection stickers must be displayed on the vehicle.

(B) The safety inspections will certify a list of items established by separate ordinance and shall be equitable as between TNCs and other vehicles for hire.

So essentially redundant checks. TxDOT already requires vehicle inspections yearly, why impose this again on drivers?

§ 13-2-522 TRADE DRESS

All vehicles operating under a TNC platform shall display a consistent and distinctive director approved emblem indicating which TNC is being used at all times that the vehicle is being used to provide TNC services.

Uber/Lyft already provide logos for the interior of the car, but now the city has to approve these logos?

§ 13-2-527 DRIVER ELIGIBILITY—CRIMINAL BACKGROUND AND DRIVER HISTORY CHECKS.

(G) To be eligible to participate in the Safety Assurance Program authorized under Subsection (E), a TNC must commit to a driver onboarding process that:

(a) refiects best practices for public safety;

(b) includes face-to-face interviews with all drivers to be onboarded;

(c) requires potential drivers to demonstrate the ability to drive safely; and

(d) demonstrates good-faith efforts to onboard drivers who have completed the fingerprint-based background check process as measured by the Austin Transportation Department and measured by percentages of drivers.

In order for a TNC to get the “help” with fingerprinting from the city, they would also have to extend their onboarding process to include all of this. This would be ridiculous to manage given the driver turnaround and add huge costs in hiring people to manage it all.

§ 13-2-529 DRIVER TRAINING.

A TNC shall establish a driver-training program designed to ensure that each driver safely operates his or her vehicle prior to the driver being able to offer service.

Basically, drivers who are already allowed to operate their own vehicle under their drivers license have to be re-trained to do so. Again, increasing onboarding time and adding overhead costs.

§ 13-2-532 TNC FEES.

(A) Each TNC operating in the City of Austin shall pay an annual fee calculated by the department based on one of the following methods of that TNCs choosing:

(1) The total of the permit fee paid by taxicab companies times the number of persons driving for the TNC;

(2) One (1) percent of the TNCs annual local gross revenues, or a comparable percentage of a TNCs portion of driver fares; or

(3) Based on total miles driven.

Obviously increased cost to operate all around. The language of A1 is interesting that they specifically mention taxicab permit rates (which were $450/ea last year). But this wouldn’t be the cab companies trying to level the playing field in order to save their business right?

§ 13-2-534 MAXIMUM FEE. No TNC shall pay more than 2% of its annual gross revenue.

This makes it sound like the city is being reasonable, but 2% of Uber or Lyft’s GROSS revenue (not profit) is an incredibly high ceiling.

Edit: formatting