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Nasir and Matt break down the new laws involving Uber and Lyft in Colorado and answer the question, "Now that it's almost summertime, I want to implement casual Fridays. Is there something I should restrict from a legal standpoint?" Full Podcast Transcript NASIR: Welcome to Legally Sound Smart Business. This is Nasir Pasha. MATT: And this is Matt Staub. NASIR: Welcome to our business legal podcast, Episode #48. This is where we cover business in the news and add our legal twist and also answer some of your business legal questions at ask@legallysoundsmartbusiness.com and soon to be dot-pizza, when I get it. MATT: Almost have it, yeah. NASIR: Don’t send it yet. I’ll tell you when. MATT: It’s a pipedream but it’s all right. NASIR: Very good. Well, today’s a good topic. It’s a recurring topic, right? I don’t know how many times we’ve covered Uber and Lyft and other sharing economy issues. I think this is our fiftieth. Even though we’ve only had 48 episodes, we’ve covered it 50 times, I think. MATT: Yeah, we do seem to talk about it a lot, but it’s kind of an important thing, especially now. In Colorado, what just happened is rules for Uber and Lyft and all these other driving businesses like this, if there are other ones, has become a law in Colorado which I’m sure taxicab drivers hate and limousine services and other things like that. But this is a good thing for the general public. I guess, basically, the big thing here with it becoming a law in Colorado is it was a whole issue of when, of course, the companies had insurance policies out on the drivers but, when did those policies go into effect? You know, obviously, if they’re driving a passenger, then yes, but what if they’re sitting there, waiting for a ride or waiting for someone to request a ride, is it active then? I guess what Colorado did is make it from the moment the person requests the ride, the policy will go into effect and now the drivers have to have personal policies in place for all those other off times. NASIR: Which makes sense because, basically, all of a sudden, you’re under the control of Uber or Lyft as soon as you accept an invitation to go. Other times, you may be on personal business and so forth. But this whole thing, I think they’re all supposed to get licenses and background check, right? To obtain permits in Colorado. MATT: That sounds right. I didn’t fact-check that. NASIR: Okay. Well, someone, fact-check that for me, but I think I’m right because, to obtain permits, the companies must have drivers pass criminal background and driving history checks. The drivers’ cars must pass vehicle inspections and be clearly marked as TNC cars which are some kind of taxi and limo network is how they’re classifying it. What’s interesting is – I don’t want to freak everyone out – if these guys aren’t going through criminal background checks and we know exactly who their identity is, it kind of reminds me of all these serial murder movies. It’s always a taxi driver, isn’t it? That’s the culprit. Now, there’s so much regulation with taxi drivers, with these Lyft and Uber drivers, it’s kind of scary, if you think about it. MATT: Yeah, Lyft and UberX, that could be anyone. NASIR: Yeah, that’s what I’m getting at. MATT: It’s not cab drivers. It’s literally just any person who can drive can do it. This is an easy movie to do. I’m sure it’s probably already out and it’s going to be on Lifetime here in the next couple of months. This is an easy movie to make. NASIR: Yeah, I wonder what the title will be like – “Uber Killer.” MATT: Yeah, it’ll be like… NASIR: That’s the worst title ever. MATT: Man, I’ve got to think of something now. NASIR: Yeah, think of something. But the main issue here is also insurance, right? They’re saying they haven’t solved every issue. To me, frankly, this is an issue of the insurance company of how they write the policies because they’re the ones that are going to determine what’s covered and what’s not.