Uber and Lyft drivers in California will face more rigorous background checks under a new law signed in the Senate on Wednesday . Starting next year , ride - hail ##ers will be required to look at violent convictions throughout a prospective driver 's entire record , rather than just the last seven years , which is the current law . Earlier this year Uber agreed to pay up to $25 million to settle a lawsuit brought by the district attorneys of San Francisco and Los Angeles accusing the company of misleading passengers about the strength of its background checks. Uber , Lyft and others will now have to reject any driver convicted of a violent crime , terrorism - related offence , or who is a registered sex offenders . The move is attempting to address security concerns about ride - hailing platforms but stops short of requiring fingerprint background checks carried out by the government .
Uber and Lyft drivers in California will face more rigorous background checks under a new law signed in the Senate on Wednesday . Starting next year , ride - hail ##ers will be required to look at violent convictions throughout a prospective driver 's entire record , rather than just the last seven years , which is the current law . Uber , Lyft and others will now have to reject any driver convicted of a violent crime , terrorism - related offence , or who is a registered sex offenders . The move is attempting to address security concerns about ride - hailing platforms but stops short of requiring fingerprint background checks carried out by the government .