San Francisco agency approves drug testing cab drivers

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- The San Francisco agency that regulates cabs approved annual drug and alcohol testing for its drivers, but the cabbies union opposed the program mainly because it includes marijuana.

Taxi cab drivers have been demanding that the city impose stricter regulations against Uber and other on-demand ridesharing companies.

Cabbies who already go through background checks plus fingerprint scans, which ridesharing drivers do not, will now have to go through annual drug and alcohol testing.

They will be tested for drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, methamphetamines, opium and phencyclidine.

Cab drivers said the city should also subject ridesharing drivers to the same testing.

The Metropolitan Transportation Agency said it can't. "We don't have regulatory authority over companies like Uber and Lyft, so we can't impose what they do and how they do," SFMTA spokesman Robert Lyles said.

But the cab drivers main objection to the testing is marijuana. "It picks up traces of the drug days or weeks or even longer after the person uses it," San Francisco Taxi Workers Alliance spokesperson Mark Gruberg said.

The cab drivers union said it may have no relation as to whether the driver is under the influence while working, but the Metropolitan Transportation Agency, which regulates taxis said it has no choice but to perform the tests. "The bottom line is the SFMTA is out of state compliance. We are required by state law to test taxi drivers for drug and alcohol," Lyles said.

Drivers also pointed out that there's no exception for those taking medical marijuana.

The board ultimate did exempt them, but alcohol and drug testing including marijuana will start next year.