Findlay weighs new rideshare rules

FINDLAY — Rideshare drivers who operate inside Findlay's city limits could soon face new licensing requirements. Legislation introduced by Law Director Robert Feighner Jr. received its first reading at Findlay City Council's Jan. 20 meeting. If approved, drivers for companies like Uber and Lyft would be required to obtain city licenses, similar to those held by conventional taxi operators. Uber and Lyft already require Ohio drivers to meet basic safety standards, including a minimum age, a valid U.S. driver's license, background checks, sex-offender screening and the use of a four-door vehicle that meets age and condition requirements. All trips must be arranged through the app. Findlay's proposal goes further. The ordinance would establish a full municipal licensing system with annual renewal, require background checks through the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, set medical and English‑proficiency standards for drivers, impose significantly higher insurance minimums and require operators to maintain a business location in Hancock County. The service‑safety director would also be authorized to test drivers, conduct hearings when a license is denied or revoked, and suspend or revoke licenses for unsafe practices, false statements or lapsed insurance. Feighner said the city's taxi code has been unchanged since 1979 and needed to be modernized "to be more efficient in application" and "up to date with the times," with definitions broad enough to cover future for‑hire transportation models. Rideshare drivers operate sporadically in Findlay now, but the city has no way to track them. Councilwoman Heather Kensinger, R‑at‑large, questioned whether the definitions were too broad, noting that some of the language "feels like we're targeting specifically Uber or Uber and Lyft drivers." She also raised legal concerns, pointing out that other cities are tied up in court over similar rules, and asked whether Findlay should wait for those cases to resolve. But Mayor Christina Muryn said the city can't delay action because of outside litigation. "Pretty much every law that ever exists is constantly in court in some way," she said. "We wouldn't really ever do anything if we just waited for it to be vetted fully." Muryn said the measure simply brings all for‑hire services under consistent licensing and insurance standards modeled on other Ohio communities. She also said the ordinance wasn't written to target rideshare companies, but to make sure every type of for‑hire driver in Findlay follows the same baseline standards. She explained the city already requires licensing, background checks and insurance for other regulated activities — such as solicitors, mobile food vendors, and vending operators — and that the updated taxi code simply extends that same approach to transportation services. Safety-Service Director Rob Martin said the administration intentionally modeled the updated rules on the city's existing licensing processes — such as those for solicitors, vending, and mobile food units — to keep requirements like background checks and liability insurance consistent across all city‑regulated activities. He said the goal was to avoid big variations between licensing systems and to build the new taxi rules on standards the city already knows work. Councilman Kevin Cullen, I‑5, said he supports the idea, noting riders should be able to trust that anyone transporting them has proper insurance and a clean record. He said the detailed process is necessary to avoid a "wild west" environment and keep legitimate operators on a fair playing field. The legislation is set for its second reading at the Feb. 3 regular meeting of city council. Council will meet at 6 p.m. in the Findlay Municipal Building, 318 Dorney Plaza. All council meetings are open to the public and are livestreamed on the city's YouTube channel: Findlay Ohio.