(The Center Square) – Virginia’s new rideshare safety laws take effect July 1, and lawmakers say the focus is on a basic issue.
They want to make sure the driver who shows up matches the person in the app.
The law requires companies such as Uber and Lyft to verify driver identities before activating accounts and to repeat those checks periodically. It also prohibits shared or fraudulent accounts, increases the frequency of background checks and allows civil penalties for violations. Enforcement will be handled through the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.
Del. Jackie Glass, D-Norfolk, said the legislation is designed to close what she described as a gap between convenience and safety.
“This particular law addresses an obvious gap,” Glass said in a statement to The Center Square. “Making sure the person who shows up to drive is the same person who was screened, approved, and shown in the app.”
Glass said the law strengthens identity verification requirements and creates accountability when companies fail to follow the rules.
“When you open an app and see a name, photo, and vehicle, that information should mean something,” she said. “The law helps make sure that the person behind the wheel is the person who was screened and approved.”
The law also requires more frequent background checks and establishes financial penalties for violations. Glass said the penalties “give the law teeth while keeping the focus where it belongs” – on rider and driver safety. The new law also gives riders and drivers the option to record audio or video during trips, with consent, adding another layer of protection.
“In Virginia, ridesharing will not be a choice between convenience and safety,” Glass said. “This is a common-sense first step of accountability for the way we move now.”
The measure builds on a separate law expanding background checks by requiring drivers to disclose prior addresses so records can be reviewed across multiple jurisdictions.
The changes come as federal researchers say data on rideshare-related assaults remains limited and inconsistent.
A February 2024 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office found there is no standardized national system for tracking assaults involving rideshare and taxi services. It is the most recent comprehensive federal review available.
The report found that while companies collect and publish some safety data, differences in reporting methods and gaps in federal data make it difficult to measure the full scope of incidents affecting drivers and passengers.
It also noted that about 4,600 incidents in the most serious categories of sexual assault were reported by three major rideshare companies in 2019. That is the only year with comparable public data across those companies.
Uber previously said it supported the legislation and worked closely with state officials on the changes.
