Uber Bill Advances
Oklahoma Senate committee passes ‘Uber bill’
By Randy Ellis
Ride-sharing services, such as Uber, would come under the exclusive regulatory authority of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission under a bill approved Thursday by the state Senate Committee on Business and Commerce.
Nairi Hourdajian, spokeswoman for Uber, praised the vote Thursday.
“With Oklahomans clamoring for more options in more cities, we’re so pleased to see that the Oklahoma state Senate is as excited about the future of ride-sharing in Oklahoma as we are,” she said.
However, Charles Cotton, owner of V.I.P. Limousine Co., was livid.
“The whole thing is insane,” Cotton said, adding that under the bill’s provisions, ride-sharing services would not have to abide by the same strict requirements as taxi cab companies and limousine services. That would leave the public less protected, he said.