NASHVILLE, Tenn. – State Rep. Elaine Davis, R-Knoxville, has proposed legislation to protect Tennesseans from people impersonating taxi and ride-share drivers. House Bill 786 creates a Class B misdemeanor offense for criminal impersonation of a taxi or ride-share driver and enhances the penalty to a Class E felony if the impersonation is done while committing […]
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – State Rep. Elaine Davis, R-Knoxville, has proposed legislation to protect Tennesseans from people impersonating taxi and ride-share drivers.
House Bill 786 creates a Class B misdemeanor offense for criminal impersonation of a taxi or ride-share driver and enhances the penalty to a Class E felony if the impersonation is done while committing a separate felony.
“No Tennessean should have to be fearful when requesting a ride to get to where they need to be,” Davis said. “Impersonating taxi or ride-share drivers poses a serious threat to law-abiding residents and tourists, and we must be vigilant in responding to the evolving methods in which criminals operate. This common-sense legislation will improve public safety in the Volunteer State by holding offenders accountable for their sinister actions.”
House Bill 786 makes it an offense to impersonate taxi and ride-share drivers by making false statements, deceptively using a company’s signage and branding, falsely connecting oneself with a company, or falsely claiming to respond to a passenger ride request.
There have been several incidents of people impersonating ride-share and taxi drivers to scam and assault riders across the Volunteer State.
House Bill 786 advanced out of the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee this week and is scheduled to be heard in the House Judiciary Committee on March 5.
State Rep. Elaine Davis represents House District 18, which includes part of Knox County.