Ride sharing drivers may be in arrival terminal in Palm Springs airport

An ordinance requiring Uber and Lyft drivers to pay the same fees as cab drivers and submit to random drug tests to pick up at the Palm Springs airport passed its first reading. In the Palm Springs City Council chambers, local taxi companies rolled into the meeting to see their argument through. If “the driver does not (undergo) a random drug test or FBI background check with fingerprint, then the passenger is at risk,” said Gadi Srulovitz with Yellow Cab of the Desert. The ordinance didn’t include fingerprint background checks but did include random alcohol and drug tests. Before this ordinance reached the city council, ride-sharing services were able to drop off passengers, but not pick them up. “At least on something they can control at the Palm Springs airport that they level the playing field and will have the same rules for taxi and TNC,” Srulovitz said. Some council members said the ride-sharing companies were difficult to deal with but these services are what people are looking for. “We’ve been saying drug testing but it’s random,” said Palm Springs City Council member J.R. Roberts. “It’s an occasional test of an occasional person, their unwillingness to do that makes me not even want them here.” “We want them to play (by) the same rules (as) every other service whether it’s called by an app or a phone,” Palm Springs City Council member Geoff Kors said. Officials with taxi companies like Yellow Cab of the Desert said it’s only half of what taxi drivers are already required to do, but it is a step to level the playing field. This ordinance will be voted on for a second final reading in the next city council meeting before it takes effect.