BILL SEEKS TO BAR ALL SEX OFFENDERS FROM DRIVING FOR RIDE SERVICES

News 12 Long Island

Suffolk Republicans, victim advocates and taxi and limousine companies called Thursday forSuffolk County to block ride-hailing services until the state prevents all registered sex offendersfrom driving for these services.

A bill introduced by Legis. Leslie Kennedy (R-Nesconset) would stop companies such as Uber andLyft from operating in the county because state law allows level-one sex offenders, the lowesttier, to drive for a ride-hailing service seven years after a conviction or completion of a prisonsentence.

Level two and level three sex offenders are not allowed to drive for the services under thecurrent law.

?I have deep concerns regarding registered sex offenders driving in this county,? Kennedy saidat a news conference at the Hauppauge legislative building.

Bills from state Sen. Tom Croci (R-Sayville) and Assemb. Dean Murray (R-East Patchogue) tochange state law are pending in the State Legislature. The session ends June 21.

Laura Ahearn, executive director of Parents for Megan?s Law, said that although level-one sexoffenders are supposed to be the least likely to reoffend, they include convicted rapists andpedophiles.

?The issue is not with Uber and Lyft. The issue is a loophole that needs to be fixed,? shesaid.

Uber and Lyft representatives have said their companies support the state bills.

?Lyft is excited to launch our service across New York in two weeks. In the meantime, we?llcontinue working with lawmakers as they explore updates to ride-sharing legislation,? AdrianDurbin, communications director for Lyft, said in a statement.

Ride-hailing services already operate on Long Island but can be ticketed for taxicab violationsby county or local governments. Starting June 29, state legislation allows the services to operatestatewide if counties don?t opt out.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone has enthusiastically embraced Uber and Lyft as ?gamechangers? for county efforts to attract and retain young people.

Bellone, in a statement Thursday, said he supports efforts in Albany to update the state law.?If this is not resolved in a timely fashion, we will work to address it on a local level,? hesaid.

Kennedy has requested that Bellone expedite the bill by issuing a ?certificate of necessity? soit can be voted on at Tuesday?s meeting. Without that, the bill would not be heard until July atthe earliest.

Bellone spokesman Jason Elan said the administration was reviewing the proposal.

Charles Gandolfo, owner of Dynasty Limo in Babylon, said Uber and Lyft should operate under thesame regulations as traditional taxis and limousines. Drug testing, for example, will be up to thecompanies, rather than regulated by the towns.

?This is about fairness,? he said.

The Suffolk effort to opt out faces an uncertain future. Republicans hold just six of 18 seatsin the legislature, although a bill to impose a six-month moratorium on ride-hailing services hasbeen introduced by two Democrats, Legis. Bridget Fleming of Noyac and Legis. William Spencer ofCenterport.

Spencer said his concerns include the sex-offender loophole, but he is also concerned that thestate will keep the 4 percent fee on state rides.

Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano has not announced whether he will opt out of the service.But the head of Nassau?s Taxi & Limousine Commission said Wednesday he had significant concernsabout a state law that will soon legalize ride-hailing in the county and across New York, butstopped short of saying whether he?ll recommend a controversial ?opt out.?

Message from Executive Director Laura A. Ahearn: Parents for Megan's Law and the Crime VictimsCenter provides prevention education, advocacy, counseling and other valuable support services tochild and adult victims of sexual assault and to all victims of violent crime. Please visit ourwebsite at www.parentsformeganslaw.org for news, information and resources in your community.

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