Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Elise Stefanik voted in favor today of Sami’s Law, a bill requiring safety measures for easier ride-sharing vehicle identification by riders. Samantha Josephson was a 21-year-old student at the University of South Carolina who was tragically killed after she got into a car she thought was her Uber ride. Sami’s parents are now seeking to educate ride-share passengers on the best safety practices, using the acronym S-A-M-I (“Stop, Ask, Match, Inform”). This legislation requires ridesharing companies to implement driver verification systems for passengers to use prior to beginning the trip, and establishes a process for DOT to issue standards for technology-based matching systems. Congresswoman Stefanik is a cosponsor of this bill, and it passed the House this afternoon.
“The death of Samantha Josephson was a heartbreaking tragedy that should never happen again,” said Congresswoman Stefanik. “This important legislation will raise and promote safety best practices for passengers and require the implementation of technologies to ensure ride-share vehicles and drivers are as transparent with their passengers as possible. I am proud to vote in favor of the passage of this legislation today, and it is my hope that its passage will bring some small consolation to the Josephson family as they work to raise awareness and prevent this from happening again, in their daughter’s honor.”
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