A debate over ride sharing in Nassau County

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State Assemblyman Charles Lavine, a Democrat from Glen Cove, recently proposed legislation that would allow ride-sharing companies such as Uber and Lyft to set up shop in Nassau County, over the objections of local officials.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill on June 6 to allow such services to operate around the state, effective June 29. Under the legislation, however, counties of one million people or more can deny permits to ride-sharing companies. Lavine’s legislation would undo that provision, according to State Assemblyman Michael Montesano, a Republican from Glen Head.

“There should be standard regulation when it comes to public transportation about what they’re allowed to do and what they’re not allowed to do,” Montesano said. “If we allow Uber and Lyft to come in and operate, that’s a blow to other businesses who follow the rules.”

Traditional taxi and limousine services, Montesano said, must follow a set of regulations that requires drivers to be fingerprinted to check whether they are registered sex offenders, and companies to carry insurance. The ride-sharing companies do not have to follow these regulations.

“If everyone could operate on the same playing field, I think Lavine’s bill is laudable,” Montesano said, “but it’s not right to exempt [ride-sharing companies] from certain operating expenses.”

Lavine explained that the difference between his bill and the governor’s is that his would create revenue by instituting an assessment fee of 50 cents per ride for any ride-sharing trip within the county. The fees collected would go toward a Nassau Inter-County Express assistance fund to improve the public bus system.

“Ride sharing is a part of our future,” Lavine said, “and we want to make sure that Nassau County is able to pay for bus transportation.”

Lavine said he wants to be sure that NICE can provide “adequate” service for riders. “The only way that we can do that is by having a dedicated fund that is administered by the State of New York to pay for the essential bus transportation services,” he said.

The state provides NICE a “phenomenal” amount of money every year — $66 million — Montesano said, but it must help other areas such as upstate New York and Suffolk County. At this point, he said, it would be unfair to tax people to cover public transportation. “A lot of people are already paying an assessment fee on our driver’s licenses and registrations,” Montesano added. “This is just another way to add a tax to people for no reason at all.”

Montesano said that although the assessment fee seems “minuscule” now, it would only increase over time. “It never goes away, and it never goes down,” he explained. “I think Uber and Lyft provide a great service, and I understand that there are times where our taxi operation can’t meet the demand and the workload. However, they have to play by the same rules.”

Lavine said the county has failed to contribute to public transportation in the past. In December, the county cut $3.8 million in funding for NICE. As a result, the bus system eliminated seven routes and reduced service for four others, affecting 3,500 passengers.

“Eliminating routes only hurts those who rely on its service to get them back and forth to work and to other appointments,” Lavine said.

State Sen. Carl Marcellino, a Republican from Syosset, said he has not had a chance to look over Lavine’s legislation because he is caught up in his duties as chairman of the Senate Education Committee.

Lavine said that his legislation is fair, and that it has the potential to provide a better future for the county. “We have to do something here to make sure that our public transportation, which is our economic lifeblood, remains safe and effective,” he said.

The bill, which will need to be introduced in both the State Senate and Assembly, is subject to amendment modifications.

Lavine said that he hoped the bill would be voted on by June 21. The Herald-Gazette did not have the outcome of the vote by press time.