Pasco approves ride-hailing companies, keeps fingerprinting requirement

Pasco city council members voted 4-to-3 Monday night to allow Transportation Network Companies (TNC) to operate in the city. Despite the most prominent TNC's insistence that it won't operate in a city that requires fingerprinting, city officials approved an ordinance that still requires drivers to submit to fingerprinting as part of a background check.

"I'm very disappointed in Uber, that they're actually taking this stance because it's just so insignificant," said Councilman Saul Martinez. "You would think they would want to take it to not only protect the community members that they're serving but also to protect their own drivers."

Martinez was one of three council members who voted against the ordinance, saying he would rather eliminate the requirement for fingerprinting TNC drivers, but keep them in place for other taxi drivers. Chi Flores and Bob Hoffman also voted against the new ordinance that replaces a previous ordinance regarding taxi and other for-hire drivers.

Richland, Kennewick, and West Richland have already revamped their local regulations to accommodate the fast-growing industry that coordinates rides between drivers and customers through a phone app. With the airport located in Pasco, drivers for TNCs like Uber and Lyft can't pick up fares at the airport, but can drop them off if they pick up the rider in one of the other cities.

"It's a service that's needed, and with this ordinance I think it opens it up to other TNCs to possibly come into the Tri-Cities," said Al Yenney. He said if other ride-hailing companies don't apply for a license to operate in Pasco, council can revisit the ordinance in 6 to 12 months.