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Washington: Robotaxi bill sparks protest as ride-share drivers rally outside DC Council
The DC Council is weighing a bill to legalize commercial driverless taxis, with fees to fund programs for displaced drivers. Unions and drivers rallied outside the Wilson Building on Tuesday, warning jobs are on the line.
Why it matters
The DC Council is considering a bill that would legalize commercial autonomous vehicles, allowing companies like Waymo to operate driverless taxis in the city. The bill would subject operators to hefty fees to fund programs for displaced ride-share drivers, but labor groups say the protections fall short, rallying outside the council building on Tuesday, October 6.
Labor unions, religious leaders and drivers chanted "Robotaxis don't vote; we vote." Autumn Weintraub, who leads 32BJ's App Drivers Union, said the council is rushing to open the floodgates for a bill that could cost local people their jobs while the district already faces an unemployment and affordability crisis.
Helen Raynor, a single mother of four who drives for ride-share companies on top of a full-time job, told the crowd the bill benefits autonomous-vehicle companies, not DC residents. Supporters circled the rally with trucks carrying pro-robotaxi billboards reading "reducing human error saves human lives."
Where the bill stands
According to WTOP, the council did not vote on the bill on Tuesday and no vote has been scheduled. If approved, service would not begin until 2028.
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