to work for uber. in texas, approved uber drivers included a murderer on parole and a convicted felon once accused, though not convicted, of seeking to smuggle rocket launchers into the middle east. he s now sentenced for 25 years for sexually assaulting a passenger. uber s sexual assault victims like this woman say uber must improve how it screens drivers. if they really want to put themselves out there as a safe ride home, they should really make sure that they are putting these people out there that are going to get you home safely. uber s response to the problems and its background checks is that the company has made significant investments and improvements and will continue to work with state and local governments to get it right in the future. to conduct its background checks, uber and lyft both use a company called checker, which uses a potential driver s name and social security number to search federal, state, and local courts and other databases for disqualifying records.
how they screen drivers. if they really want to put themselves out there as the safe ride home, they should really make sure that they are putting these people out there that are going to get you home safely. reporter: uber s response to the problems and its background checks is the company has made significant investments in improvements and will continue to work with state and local governments to get it right in the future. to conduct its background checks, uber and lift both use a company called checker which uses a potential driver s name and social security number to search federal, state and local courts and other databases for disqualifying records. regulators tell cnn that is not enough. and that government-run background checks that include fingerprinting, potential drivers, would go further in discovering histories of violence. but uber says fingerprints don t offer a complete picture of arrests and convictions, and uber has gone to great lengths to fight any government-
uber s background checks are failing. when colorado s public safety commissioner heard about a man who was allegedly assaulted by an uber driver, he demanded a list from uber of all its drivers with disqualifying records. frankly, we were shocked by what we found. the list he got from uber included 12 uber drivers convicted of felonies and others with duis or driving on suspended licenses. what does that tell you about the background process? tells me that the background process as it is in law right now doesn t work. according to uber, the company s policy disqualifies drivers convicted of felonies, violent crimes, and sexual offenses, as well as major driving violations, yet in case after case, convicted felons have been approved to drive anyway. in maryland, california, and massachusetts, government agencies did additional screening and found what added up to thousands of drivers with disqualifying criminal records, even sexual offenders approved
made significant investments and improvements and will continue to work with state and local governments to get it right in the future. to conduct its background checks, uber and lyft both use a company called checker which uses a potential driver s name and social security number to search federal, state and local courts and other databases for disqualifying records. regulators tell cnn that is not enough. and that government-run background checks that include fingerprinting potential drivers would go further in discovering histories of violence. but uber says fingerprints don t offer a complete picture of arrests and convictions. and uber has gone to great lengths to fight any government-run background checks. that s their game plan in every city and state. we ll get a law passed that s just for us. it s their own special law for uber and lyft. reporter: a cnn investigation tallied more than 400 lobbyists across the country hired by uber. mostly to fight stricter
crimes and sexual offenses, as well as major driving violations. yet in case after case, convicted felons have been approved to drive anyway. in maryland, california and massachusetts, government agencies did additional screening and found what add up to thousands of drivers with disqualifying criminal records, even sexual offenders, approved to work for uber. in texas, approved uber drivers included a murderer on parole and a convicted felon once accused, though not convicted of seeking to smuggle rocket launchers into the middle east. he is now sentenced to 25 years for sexually assaulting a passenger. uber s sexual assault victims like this woman say uber must improve how it screens drivers. if they really want to put themselves out there as the safe ride home, they should really make sure that they are putting these people out there that are going to get you home safely. reporter: uber s response to the problems and its background checks is that the company has