Republican Governor Charlie Baker signed the nickel fee into law this month as part of a sweeping package of regulations for the industry.
Ride services are not enthusiastic about the fee. "I don't think we should be in the business of subsidizing potential competitors," said Kirill Evdakov, the chief executive of Fasten, a ride service that launched in Boston last year and also operates in Austin, Texas.
Some taxi owners wanted the law to go further, perhaps banning the start-up competitors unless they meet the requirements taxis do, such as regular vehicle inspection by the police.
"They've been breaking the laws that are on the books, that we've been following for many years," said Larry Meister, manager of the Boston area's Independent Taxi Operator's Association.
The law levies a 20-cent fee in all, with 5 cents for taxis, 10 cents going to cities and towns and the final 5 cents designated for a state transportation fund.
The fee may raise millions of dollars a year because Lyft and Uber alone have a combined 2.5 million rides per month in Massachusetts.
(Score: 2) by archfeld on Tuesday August 23 2016, @03:47PM
Uh you really don't understand insurance liability do you ? Nor apparently do you approve of people having an opinion different from yours. The 'business' model of Uber is FAR from sticking out your thumb for an occasional ride otherwise there would be no business, just a few people getting a ride share. The medical costs alone far exceed the scope of what you are referring to. As to where the OP lives I'd be willing to bet based on the story we both reside in the US and that makes the medical costs part of my life. As for the full audit of my financial 'life', I send it to the Fsck'n Federal government every year just like every other citizen does to ensure that I pay my full share. While you seem to scoff at the idea of the butterfly in China affecting the weather in Cincinnati, most of us realize the world is a closed space and everything we do affects everyone else's lives.
For the NSA : Explosives, guns, assassination, conspiracy, primers, detonators, initiators, main charge, nuclear charge