Uber driver Cheryl Purchase was back on the road and a bit uneasy Tuesday night after learning her employer will be regulated in Broward County.
"It's scary, it is scary because I don't want them to leave, it's an awesome little gig, and I don't know what I'll do if they pull out of Broward County," Purchase said.
The Broward County Board of Commissioners passed an ordinance Tuesday that will require vehicle inspections, background checks that include fingerprinting and 24/7 insurance that complies with state law, for drivers of ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft.
All regulations that Uber protested and said would force them out of the county.
"I don't consider it any kind of a loss for Uber," Mayor Tim Ryan said. "Uber can now have the certainty of regs in place that will make them more successful and it gives consumers more choices for transportation."
Uber spokesman Bill Gibbons released this statement, "We cannot operate in Broward County if such onerous regulations are enforced, and stand ready to reengage with the Commission to bring more choice and opportunity back to Broward County."
"There are things in the ordinance as it is written that would prevent us from operating in Broward County," added Kasra Moshkani, general manager for Uber in South Florida.
The consensus is an overwhelming majority of people want the ride-share company in Broward, but commissioners felt bullied by threats to leave.
"If they can't pony up a few dollars for insurance, background checks, and registrations than shame on them," said Commissioner Stacy Ritter.
As for drivers like Purchase, they just want to keep the jobs they've grown to love.
"I'm going to email them as soon as I get home and say where do we go from here, what needs to be done?"
A petition against the ordinance has garnered 26,000 signatures.
But taxi and limo companies claim the threat has no teeth.
"Uber uses the threat of pulling out for political purposes," said George Platt, with Go Airport Shuttle. "Uber will not leave Broward County, the simple fact is this market is too valuable to them."
