“Uber” takes over bill to honor late businessman

It’s called “AN ACT REGULATING TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANIES, To name a portion of Route 160 in Rocky Hill in honor of James Vicino.” There are a few bills like this that come before the Legislature each year, but this one, named for a long-time plant-nursery owner who died last year at 63, has been commandeered. The bill, which made it out of the Judiciary Committee this morning and now heads to the House of Representatives, is the current version of the legislation aimed at allowing the Uber ride-sharing operation to be regulated more like a traditional taxi or limousine company. The bill passed amid concerns from lawmakers that mandatory corporate liability needs to be stronger, in order to provide riders with greater protections in cases of negligence on the part of Uber drivers. “I understand there continues to be a lot of work on the bill,” said Rep. William Tong, D-Stamford, co-chairman of the committee. “It basically creates a regulatory structure for transportation-network companies that use some kind of smart phone app to connect passengers with drivers. It includes a variety of provisions including requirements about insurance, criminal background checks and so forth to try to promote safety in the use of these services. Personally, I hope more work will be done on this bill going forward. I do understand it provides a great deal of convenience for people, but I am concerned that we should have an effective regulatory structure to keep people safe in this state.”

Rep. Tom O’Dea, R-New Canaan, (left) a committee member who is also the ranking member on the Transportation Committee, recalled that it was crucial to him that companies like Uber are prevented from selling customer information, but he sees no such provision in the current incarnation of the legislation. “I am going to vote ‘yes’ for it, but know that I am going to be working to add that language and some other amendments, potentially, to make sure their is no immunity for Uber to place liability back on the driver solely.”

Rep. Al Adinolfi, R-Cheshire, said he saw no lingering reference to Vicino, whose memory seemed co-opted.  “What line item is that in the bill?” Adinolfi asked. Sen. Eric Coleman, D-Bloomfield, co-chairman, explained: “Apparently, Rep. Adinolfi, that is how the bill started out (giggles from committee members) and there must have been a strike-all amendment in the Transportation Committee. So it looks like Route 160 will not have his name (more laughter from committee members)…..at least this year.”