(CHICAGO) – Today, Illinois State Senator Martin Sandoval (D-Chicago), Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee held a hearing where more public safety gaps were uncovered in the ridesharing industry currently operating in Illinois.  

Insurance industry experts testified today that drivers’ personal auto insurance does not cover rideshare drivers, passengers, occupants of other vehicles or pedestrians as the rideshare companies have claimed. Further, “excess” or “drop-down” insurance is unlikely to provide coverage in the event of an accident.

“After listening to our expert witnesses, it is very clear that Illinois residents are not covered and are not protected when they are a driver or a passenger of one of these ridesharing services,” said Senator Sandoval. “What’s not clear is why these companies have not come forward to answer very basic questions about public safety and have refused to provide copies of their insurance policies so that people can see if they’re protected. What are they hiding? The people of Illinois deserve to know.”

Representatives from UberX, Lyft, and Sidecar were invited to answer questions at today’s hearing and were asked to produce a copy of their insurance policies. The companies did not testify nor did they provide the Committee with any proof of insurance.  

At the conclusion of today’s hearing, Senator Sandoval asked the Illinois Department of Insurance to determine if they have the ability to subpoena these rideshare companies for a copy of their insurance policies. If it is determined the Department does not have the authority to issue those subpoenas, Senator Sandoval will seek authorization from Senate President Cullerton to subpoena the insurance policies.

“While these rideshare companies may be relatively new in Illinois, we as elected officials have always had a responsibility to protect the public,” Senator Sandoval said.   “These companies’ refusal to participate in this hearing today shows a troubling lack of concern for public safety.”

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Illinois State Senator Martin Sandoval (D-Chicago), Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee today announced he will hold a committee hearing next Thursday, March 13, on a number of public safety questions about new transportation providers in the state of Illinois, including Uberx, Lyft and Sidecar.

The purpose of the hearing is to determine what specific gaps concerning insurance and public safety currently exist and how to best implement policies to protect the citizens of Illinois. The committee has invited members of the ride-share community to explain their insurance policies and safety training materials.

“Over the years the Illinois Senate led by Senate President John Cullerton has worked hard to improve the safety of Illinois’ streets and highways,” said Chairman Sandoval. “Recent news reports have raised the concern of possible safety gaps created by new transportation companies operating in Illinois, specifically concerns about adequate insurance. When an Illinois citizen steps into a taxi, they expect they are properly protected and covered by our laws governing operations and insurance requirements. It is not entirely clear these new ‘rideshare’ companies are following necessary public safety standards including adequate insurance, criminal background checks and vehicle maintenance.”

The Senate Transportation Committee has requested full commercial insurance policies of UberX, Lyft and Sidecar demonstrating they have full commercial insurance as well as copies of all training/safety manuals offered to drivers of these ride-share companies.

In addition to the ride-share companies themselves, the committee expects to hear testimony from representatives of the Illinois Department of Insurance, automobile insurance providers, legal experts and representatives of the taxi industry.

Relacionados: El Presidente del Senado de Illinois, John J. Cullerton, advirtió que el estado enfrenta un déficit de casi 3 mil millones de dólares que podría causar dramáticos recortes a la educación, incrementar el costo de la matrícula universitaria y eliminaría los progresos fiscales que se han logrado en los últimos años.

State Senator Martin Sandoval (D-11), who has close ties to San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, a rising Latino leader in America, joined the mayor to celebrate the Hispanic business community in St. Louis.

“The great change and growth that Mayor Castro has achieved in San Antonio is very inspiring,” said Sandoval. “This growth, as well as the engagement of the Hispanic community, is something that we are currently striving to achieve in the Midwest region.

The 39-year-old San Antonio native Mayor Julián Castro is the youngest mayor of a Top 50 American city. First elected on May 9, 2009, Mayor Castro handily won re-election in 2011 with nearly 82 percent of the vote, making him the fifth Hispanic mayor of that city. He became a household name after being selected by President Barack Obama to deliver the Keynote Address at the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina. Many consider him as having the potential to become the first Hispanic president of the United States.