Ride sharing apps -- Many North Texans love the convenience and Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price wants to keep it that way.
Uber and Lyft announced Monday they were suspending operations in Austin after voters there rejected a $9 million campaign by the companies to overturn a safety measure that would require them to fingerprint drivers.
Some North Texas cities are also considering proposals to make ride-sharing safer for customers.
"We are looking at Uber, Lyft and taxes too, as less regulation is more. Obviously you want them to be 100 percent safe for people, but the free market will drive this," Price said.
The Fort Worth City Council has been working on the issue for more than a year.
The latest draft of the ordinance has the city in charge of background checks, which was a sticking point in Austin. But council members and the mayor are not sure if the city will be in charge of those checks once the final version is passed.
"The companies fingerprint their drivers themselves and I don't know that we need that additional piece here at the city," Price said.
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Dallas worked through its security concerns with the car services in 2013. If a driver applies for a permit with the city then the city does the background check. Uber and Lyft can do their own background checks but the city will audit them.
Price is confident Fort Worth will reach an agreement soon. The ordinance must pass through a committee first before a final vote can be made in June.
Both Uber and Lyft released statements Monday evening regarding the ordinance.
"We are encouraged by the Fort Worth City Council's efforts to ensure residents and visitors have access to a ride and work at the push of a button. The City Council has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to protecting the public while preserving innovation."
Debbie Hancock, Uber
"Lyft welcomes Mayor Price and Fort Worth City Council's public support of ridesharing. If the final ordinance reflects the will of the Mayor and City Council, Fort Worth will stand as an example in the State of Texas for striking the right balance between innovation and regulation."
Chelsea Wilson, Lyft
