LEGAL BLOG

Uber, Lyft, and other ridesharing companies have made it easier to catch a ride to the airport or make it home safely after a night out. These companies also offer a convenient source of income. It’s far easier to become an Uber or Lyft driver than to get a taxi license.

If you’ve been arrested for a DUI and are interested in joining Uber or Lyft to earn some extra money or even a full-time income, you may be wondering if this is possible. The answer depends on whether your arrest turned into a conviction and when your conviction occurred.

Consult a Chicago DUI lawyer from O’Meara Law if you are unsure of whether your DUI will prevent you from landing a job as an Uber or Lyft driver. Call 312-909-0706 today to schedule an appointment.

Requirements for Uber and Lyft Drivers

If you’d like to join Lyft as a driver, you will have to pass a rigorous screening process which includes a criminal background check as well as a review of your motor vehicle records. They will also search for your name in the sex offender registry. You must complete a training session, be over the age of 21, and have had a valid license for over three years. If you’ve had a DUI conviction within the last seven years, you will not be able to drive for Lyft.

Uber’s requirements are similar to Lyft’s. If you would like to become an Uber driver, you must pass a similar screening process which consists of background checks from the previous seven years. Just like Lyft, Uber pays close attention to motor vehicle records and will not hire you if you’ve had a DUI offense within the last seven years. Other driving offenses such as hit and runs, reckless driving, and driving without insurance may also prohibit you from driving for Uber.

For Uber, you must also have valid license plates for Illinois or the state in which you plan to drive, seating for at least four passengers, and a vehicle with a model year of 2000 or later. For Lyft, you need a vehicle with four doors manufactured in 2004 or later. You will be required to pass a safety inspection as well.

Charged with a DUI? Call O’Meara Law Today

If you’ve been charged with a DUI, you owe it to yourself to contact Mike O’Meara at O’Meara Law today. As an experienced Chicago DUI attorney, he can give your case a thorough defense that may result in the dismissal of your charges or an acquittal. A case dismissal can give you the opportunity to make money driving for Lyft or Uber. In the event that your case cannot be dismissed, Mike O’Meara may be able to get your charges or penalties reduced.

Call O’Meara Law at 312-909-0706 for your free consultation.