Rideshare bill named for former USC student passes US House

The U.S. House on Wednesday passed legislation named for former University of South Carolina student Samantha Josephson that would require rideshare companies to implement additional safety precautions to protect riders.

The bill would make it illegal for any vendor other than rideshare companies to sell vehicle signs to help prevent driver impersonation, require rideshare companies to implement a new code system that allows passengers to verify the vehicle before entering and establish a new Department of Transportation council to ensure safety protocols are keeping up with technology, among other things.

Josephson was killed in March 2019 after mistakenly entering a vehicle that she thought was her Uber ride.

“Today we are voting on Sami’s Law to put protections in place to prevent similar tragedies,” said Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., whose district includes the University of South Carolina.

In addition to requiring additional safety precautions, the bill would also require the Government Accountability Office, Congress’ nonpartisan investigative agency, to conduct a study on the frequency of assault and abuse of passengers by drivers for rideshare apps, taxi drivers and other for-hire drivers. The legislation would also require GAO to investigate how background checks on drivers are completed.

The bill now goes to the Senate, where a sister version was introduced by four Democratic senators last year and sent to the body’s Environment and Public Works Committee.

“Let’s hope, God willing, that this [bill] is on the president’s desk ASAP,” said Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., who represents Josephson’s hometown.