Commissioner Levine testifies on Intro 389 (moped registration verification)
Levine supports the intent of Intro 389 requiring delivery services to verify moped registration, but recommends guardrails to prevent unfair deactivations.
Turning to Intro 389, this would prohibit third-party food delivery services for permitting any food delivery worker
hired, retained, or engaged by the third-party food delivery service to utilize a moped unless the delivery service has verified registration of the moped.
Our administration supports the intent of this legislation to require third-party food delivery services to verify moped registration.
However, we have concerns that the bill as written could result in delivery workers being unfairly deactivated by delivery apps unless there are reasonable guardrails in place.
Workers should be given notice and opportunity to address any issues with their vehicle registration and the chance to get back to work once this is addressed.
We recommend adding in language requiring warnings and other progressive discipline measures to ensure workers are not permanently deactivated arbitrarily and providing for an extended effective date.
We look forward to working with council and our sister agencies to establish a balanced approach that tackles both street safety priorities and workers'rights and needs to earn a living.