BOSTON (AP) - Gov. Charlie Baker says up to 500 Uber and Lyft drivers who had been blocked from driving for the ride-hailing companies have successfully appealed.
The drivers were among 8,200 who failed the state’s new background checks. More than 62,000 passed.
Some drivers complained that they were blocked for minor infractions.
Baker defended the background checks Thursday during his monthly radio show on WGBH-FM. The Republican said that no drivers lost their jobs over a speeding or parking ticket.
He said hundreds of drivers had serious felony convictions.
The recent background checks were conducted under an agreement between the state and the companies.
Massachusetts is now in the process of drafting final regulations, with input from the companies and the public. Those final regulations should be released sometime in the fall.
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