Assemblyman Obernolte’s Bill 880

Signed by Governor

Ensures Passenger Safety

 

 

Tuesday, October 8, 2019 Assemblyman Obernolte (R-Hesperia) announced that Governor Newsom has signed his Assembly Bill 880 to improve public safety by prohibiting a person from driving for a ride-sharing service, if the driver has been convicted of felony human trafficking.

     

“As ride-sharing services are utilized more and more as a convenient mode of transportation, it is of the utmost importance to ensure that we are protecting passenger safety,” Assemblyman Obernolte said. “Our residents need to have confidence that when they get into a vehicle, they will have a safe ride home. As a father, I know that I feel more comfortable knowing that drivers go through criminal background checks before my children use these services.”  

    

 

In 2016 the Legislature passed a law that required Transportation Network Companies (TNC’s)

to conduct criminal background checks for each participating driver. It also prohibited a

TNC from retaining a driver who is required to register as a sex offender, or who has been

convicted of specified offenses including violent felonies and misdemeanor domestic

violence offenses, and established fines for violations of these requirements.

  

The U.S. Department of State estimates that 14,500 to 17,500 victims are trafficked

into the United States each year. According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline,

California consistently has the highest number of human trafficking incidents reported in our country.

 

 

Assembly Bill 880 helps to ensure the safety of all consumers in California who use these ride-sharing services by including felony human trafficking in the list of crimes that prevent a person from driving for a Transportation Network Company.  

 

Assembly Bill 880 will take effect January 1, 2020.