A metropolis councilor is asking for Boston Police to fingerprint Uber and Lyft drivers and have extra oversight on rideshares after a driver allegedly raped a passenger in Southie final weekend.
Metropolis Councilor Ed Flynn has despatched a letter to Mayor Michelle Wu and Police Commissioner Michael Cox concerning the Hub regulating rideshares within the wake of but one other troubling incident.
Final Saturday evening, a lady who had been out consuming at Loco Taqueria and Oyster Bar was allegedly sexually assaulted by her rideshare driver. Brighton man Hermann Ngoufack Jiokeng, 39, has been arrested and charged with allegedly raping the intoxicated lady.
This isn’t the primary time {that a} native rideshare driver has been accused of sexual assault, Flynn famous in his letter to Wu and Cox. A rideshare driver was convicted of aggravated rape, kidnapping, assault and battery. One other driver allegedly uncovered himself to 2 ladies close to Downtown Crossing.
“Ensuring the safety of all residents — particularly our young women — who use rideshares is critical,” Flynn wrote. “While the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities currently regulates TNCs, including rideshare drivers, services, and companies, I believe the Boston Police Department needs to play a larger role in regulating and providing oversight on public safety issues regarding rideshares in our City.
“The City of Boston should seriously consider creating a division, similar to the Hackney Carriage Unit of the Boston Police Department, to regulate rideshares,” he added.
Flynn additionally needs town to require rideshare drivers to register with town and get fingerprinted.
Whereas the state requires a two-step background test for rideshare drivers, there’s no requirement for rideshare drivers to endure fingerprinting, he famous. That differs from New York Metropolis the place rideshare drivers must submit their fingerprints.
“Given the sheer volume of rideshares that start and operate in Boston, there needs to be stronger municipal oversight on TNCs in the form of a personal registration — or license and fee — to drive on account of public safety issues, traffic, and the wear and tear of our roads,” Flynn wrote.
“Incidents of sexual assault on rideshares are deeply disturbing and unsettling for residents across the City of Boston,” he added. “I urge the City to work closely with the DPU and state partners to register and fingerprint drivers, as well as transferring public safety and oversight functions to the Boston Police.”
Uber instantly banned the driving force when the incident was reported final weekend, the corporate stated.
Jiokeng earlier this week was held with out bail, pending a dangerousness listening to on Friday. Dangerousness hearings occur when prosecutors search pretrial detention or launch on circumstances for a felony offense that entails “the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force” towards somebody.
BPD stated it’s actively reviewing the information and circumstances surrounding this incident. Police are urging anybody with data to contact the Sexual Assault Unit at 617-343-4400.
Individuals who wish to present data anonymously can contact the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1-800-494-TIPS, or textual content the phrase “TIP” to CRIME (27463).
Pictures and movies associated to the investigation will also be submitted anonymously through CrimeStoppers.
