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March 8, 2015
The Honorable Annise Parker
City of Houston
PO Box 1562
Houston, Texas 77251
Dear Mayor Parker,
I am writing to address your recent statements regarding Uber’s compliance
efforts in the City of Houston.
When the city instituted the new permitting process in November, several
thousand Houstonians were already using the Uber platform to make a living or
supplement their income. As we have discussed with city officials on numerous
occasions, it has been a challenge to move this large volume of drivers through
the city’s permitting process. Nonetheless, we remain committed to educating our
driver partners on how to comply with the process and their responsibility to
adhere to the City of Houston’s rules.
We have been working closely with your staff at the ARA since these regulations
were initially implemented to ensure that they can efficiently manage the large
number of drivers who seek to obtain a permit.
Becoming a driver on the Uber platform is an intensive and thorough process.
Before an individual obtains a permit from the City of Houston, he or she must
first pass a multi-level background check conducted by a nationally-accredited
third party that reviews criminal and driving records at the county, state, multistate and federal level, including a review of the National Sex Offender Registry.
Once drivers complete Uber’s background check process, they are directed to
obtain a permit from the City of Houston if they choose to accept requests within
the city limits.
We encourage these driver partners to move quickly to obtain a city permit and
are clear about the fact that it is required to operate in the City of Houston. In
addition to holding group information sessions as well as one-on-one meetings
with driver partners multiple times each week and providing instructional
materials that outline the numerous steps required to obtain a City of Houston
permit, we follow up with emails, texts, and personal phone calls to ensure they
complete the process in a timely manner.

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We understand that it is imperative for all Uber driver partners that operate in
Houston to have a city permit, and we have taken repeated action to enforce
these rules. Since the City of Houston implemented its new regulations, Uber has
denied access to the platform to more than 2,000 Houstonians who have not
obtained a city permit but provided rides in Houston. We will continue to take
such action and work closely with the city to ensure compliance with these
permitting requirements.
In recent media reports, you have questioned Uber’s decision to allow drivers to
access the platform before they complete the city’s permitting process. It is
important to remember that many drivers that use the Uber platform do not live or
operate within the city limits. The City of Houston is the only city within a 200 mile
radius that requires permits. Meaning, only drivers that accept trips within the
City of Houston are required to obtain a permit. All drivers are instructed to obtain
a permit if they choose to operate in Houston. If drivers fail to comply, they are
removed from the platform until they present a permit.
We are working hard to help move drivers through the process as quickly as
possible so the residents of Houston have continued access to alternative
transportation options and economic opportunity. As you referenced yesterday,
your leadership was instrumental in bringing Uber to Houston, and we appreciate
your ongoing efforts to ensure Houstonians have continued access to a safe,
reliable ride.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss this matter further, please do
not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,

Chris Nakutis
General Manager
Uber Texas