Uber, Lyft returning to Austin as driver-fingerprinting dispute ends

Enlarge (credit: Alfredo Mendez)

Uber and Lyft are returning to Austin-the capital of Texas and home to the South by Southwest festival. The move comes one year after the ride-hailing services left the area over a driver-background check dispute with city regulators and voters.

The two companies are coming back now because state lawmakers passed legislation, which Gov. Greg Abbott is expected to sign Monday, that removes a controversial requirement that prospective drivers have their fingerprints run through an FBI database that tracks people's criminal activity over the course of their lives. Uber and Lyft claimed that the check was too onerous and should be reserved for security sensitive personnel.

The new legislation supersedes the city of Austin's regulations, paving the way for the companies' return to Austin possibly as early as this coming week. (The companies said they would return for business immediately following Abbott's signature.) Austin Mayor Steve Adler said he was "disappointed" with the new state regulations.

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