California State Senator Ben Hueso, a San Diego Democrat whose family has ties to the taxi industry (father and brother own a taxi company) has been submitting legislation, after legislation making it difficult for Uber and Lyft to operate in California.
A California Senate on Tuesday blocked Hueso’s legislation aimed at preventing ride-hailing services Uber and Lyft from adjusting their prices based on demand.
It’s unfair, Hueso said, for someone to pay a low fare to get to a restaurant and a much higher one to get home. Likewise, drivers are punished when fares plummet, he said. His bill would direct the California Public Utilities Commission to take a more hands-on approach to regulating Uber and Lyft and allow police officers to impound vehicles if they discover violations.
Hueso’s bill isn’t the only front in his battle with Uber and Lyft. Two bills the companies support have stalled in the Senate committee that Hueso chairs for almost a year after clearing the state Assembly nearly unanimously.
