A city councilor is calling for Boston Police to fingerprint Uber and Lyft drivers and have more oversight on rideshares after a driver allegedly raped a passenger in Southie last weekend.
City Councilor Ed Flynn has sent a letter to Mayor Michelle Wu and Police Commissioner Michael Cox about the Hub regulating rideshares in the wake of yet another troubling incident.
Last Saturday night, a woman who had been out drinking at Loco Taqueria and Oyster Bar was allegedly sexually assaulted by her rideshare driver. Brighton man Hermann Ngoufack Jiokeng, 39, has been arrested and charged with allegedly raping the intoxicated woman.
This is not the first time that a local rideshare driver has been accused of sexual assault, Flynn noted in his letter to Wu and Cox. A rideshare driver was convicted of aggravated rape, kidnapping, assault and battery. Another driver allegedly exposed himself to two women near Downtown Crossing.
“Ensuring the safety of all residents — particularly our young women — who use rideshares is critical,” Flynn wrote. “While the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities currently regulates TNCs, including rideshare drivers, services, and companies, I believe the Boston Police Department needs to play a larger role in regulating and providing oversight on public safety issues regarding rideshares in our City.
“The City of Boston should seriously consider creating a division, similar to the Hackney Carriage Unit of the Boston Police Department, to regulate rideshares,” he added.
Flynn also wants the city to require rideshare drivers to register with the city and get fingerprinted.
While the state requires a two-step background check for rideshare drivers, there’s no requirement for rideshare drivers to undergo fingerprinting, he noted. That differs from New York City where rideshare drivers have to submit their fingerprints.
“Given the sheer volume of rideshares that start and operate in Boston, there needs to be stronger municipal oversight on TNCs in the form of a personal registration — or license and fee — to drive on account of public safety issues, traffic, and the wear and tear of our roads,” Flynn wrote.
“Incidents of sexual assault on rideshares are deeply disturbing and unsettling for residents across the City of Boston,” he added. “I urge the City to work closely with the DPU and state partners to register and fingerprint drivers, as well as transferring public safety and oversight functions to the Boston Police.”
Uber immediately banned the driver when the incident was reported last weekend, the company said.
Jiokeng earlier this week was held without bail, pending a dangerousness hearing on Friday. Dangerousness hearings happen when prosecutors seek pretrial detention or release on conditions for a felony offense that involves “the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force” against someone.
BPD said it’s actively reviewing the facts and circumstances surrounding this incident. Police are urging anyone with information to contact the Sexual Assault Unit at 617-343-4400.
People who want to provide information anonymously can contact the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1-800-494-TIPS, or text the word “TIP” to CRIME (27463).
Photos and videos related to the investigation can also be submitted anonymously via CrimeStoppers.