Rabon proposes state regulation of Uber

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Sen. Bill Rabon (R-Brunswick County) said he has watched Charlotte struggle with ways to regulate ride share companies like Uber and Lyft for more than a year. He thinks a new bill he recently proposed in the General Assembly will help alleviate some of the uncertainties surrounding the new car services.

The Southport Republican’s bill would take the control of the transportation network companies out of the hands of local government and hand it over to the state.

Rabon said the business of the car apps is not the same as taxi companies, so it should be handled differently.

“I think some of those aren’t just regulated, some of them are held hostage, if you will. And the industry is not the same,” Rabon said. “I look at the taxi cab industry. It’s been around a long time, and many of the kinks have been worked out.”

But Uber customers in Wilmington are not so sure about this solution.

“Personally I believe it should stick with the city,” Uber customer Ellie Schlott said. “Each city is different and has different needs, so they should be entitled to make those decisions.”

Sen. Rabon believes that car service apps are still a new commodity and that having the state regulate them will help to make them better and safer for everyone. Rabon said he is sure the bill will go through many changes alone the way. He would like to get input from cities on ways to get a handle on the car service technology.