What’s in a fingerprint? The future of Uber in New Jersey

When Democratic Assemblyman Joseph Lagana decided to regulate ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft in New Jersey, his main priority was making sure drivers were properly insured.

Two years later, his measure including fingerprint-background checks is the key sticking point in attempts to regulate the industry.

It has led to fierce backlash from Uber with a lobbying effort including the United States’ former top prosecutor and threats to leave the state.

Lagana’s measure requires fingerprint checks if the ride-sharing companies don’t use a check approved by the New Jersey state police. An Uber spokesman says that could allow the state to require fingerprinting “at any time.”

The state attorney general’s office declined to comment on whether the third-party checks currently used by the companies would meet state standards.