Uber to Ban Drivers With Violent Felony Convictions

Uber is reportedly set to enhance its background check policies, moving to ban drivers convicted of violent felonies and sexual offenses. This change comes after an investigation highlighted that the ride-sharing giant previously permitted individuals with older criminal convictions, including violent felonies, to continue driving.

The company's former policy allowed drivers with convictions older than seven years to operate, a stance Uber had defended as balancing safety with second chances. However, reports indicated a significant number of sexual assault or misconduct complaints were received by Uber.

Recent incidents have spurred this policy shift. In 2025, an Uber driver in Texas was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a passenger and later faced an ICE detainer. Another incident in 2021 involved a Florida driver with a criminal history allegedly raping a passenger.

Uber's forthcoming policy changes will eliminate the seven-year cutoff for serious offenses and also re-evaluate policies for less severe charges like harassment. The company has stated its safety approach is dynamic and evolves with expert input and societal changes, though a timeline for these new measures remains unannounced.