SANTA FE, NM (KRQE) – After complaints about rideshare costs, two agencies asked the question: Are rideshare companies overcharging customers? Results from a recent operation highlight what could be a statewide problem.
Santa Fe Police and the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) Regulation Bureau worked together to address complaints that rides are being overcharged and said a recent operation highlights multiple concerns.
“We want individuals who use rideshare services to know that they have been vetted. They are certified. They are complying,” said Kristine Bustos-Mihelcic, NMDOT.
The agencies said a customer reported being charged more than $100 for a ride from Santa Fe Regional Airport to downtown, a 14-mile drive that takes about 20 minutes.
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On Tuesday, investigators checked the airport for violations of the Motor Carrier Act, issuing 10 citations.
“So the Motor Carrier Act is basically the regulations that every motor carrier that provides transportation services in New Mexico must meet and comply with,” Bustos-Mihelcic said.
Some of those citations related to the lack of NMDOT certification on the vehicle and missing decals on taxis.
NMDOT said passengers should also be able to see what the ride will cost and the correct certification numbers should be permanently attached to the cars.
“This really contributes to airlines operating legally again,” Bustos-Mihelcic said.
Although the law applies to all rideshares, the operation targeted a specific group of providers.
“In some cases, like Lyft or Uber, a lot of people use an app, so the app has information: what kind of vehicle is arriving, what your driver looks like, how much your ride is going to cost. You can see all that in your app, so we also look at taxi services or transport services that do not use apps,” says Bustos-Mihelcic.
NMDOT said other complaints lead them to believe this could be a statewide problem and that they want to work with other agencies in the future.
To file a complaint regarding a violation of the Motor Carrier Act, you may contact the NMDOT Transportation Regulation Bureau, Compliance Unit, at 505-827-4519 or visit the Transportation Regulation Bureau website to file a complaint online serve.
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