On Thursday, June 20, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed “Sami’s Law”, in a step towards making ridesharing safer. The law is named after a University of South Carolina student who was kidnapped and killed in March after getting into a car she thought was her Uber.
Under the new law, New Jersey rideshare drivers will have to display illuminated or reflective signs in their front window and rear windshield. It also requires drivers have a ID card that can be scanned to verify their identity. Chris Smith, congress man from New Jersey, is currently working on passing a similar measure on the federal level.
As advocates for rider safety, the team at Estey & Bomberger commend Governor Phil Murphy and those in New Jersey who worked to pass this law. We believe that rideshare companies don’t do enough to protect their riders. The solutions offered by companies such as Uber and Lyft amount to little more that adding features to their app.
These companies need to increase the level of scrutiny their drivers face when signing up. Their “background checks”, are anything but thorough, and can lead to dangerous people slipping through. We see the unfortunate effects of what happens when these dangerous people commit terrible crimes against innocent riders. If you or a loved one is a survivor of sexual assault by an Uber or Lyft driver, contact us immediately to explore your legal options and get help today.