Welcome to the latest edition of AFT NewsWatch, a weekly service of Advocates for Fairness in Transportation, an ad hoc group of regulated transportation service companies dedicated to informing and educating the public on threats to public safety from new so-called ride-sharing or ride-booking services such as Uber, Lyft and Sidecar. Visit the Archive to read previous editions.

Taxis to city: Don't bow to Uber

In its strongest effort yet to block a loosening of regulations for 'Transportation Network Companies' Uber and Lyft in San Antonio, the President of the Taxicab, Limousine, and Para transit Association is pointing to sexual assaults allegedly committed by Uber drivers in a half dozen major U.S. cities, and asking whether that record justifies the looser background check policy that Uber is demanding in San Antonio, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.

Read more from 1200 WOAI San Antonio

Lawsuits facing Uber, Lyft could alter sharing economy

Hot start-ups Uber and Lyft have contributed substantially to the growth of the sharing economy that connects freelancers with available work projects. Now some drivers of those companies argue they've been misclassified as independent contractors and want full employee status.

Read more from CNBC

Here's why Uber and Lyft send drivers such confusing tax forms

Uber and Lyft say their drivers are independent contractors, not employees. But when it comes to income-tax reporting, they are treated as neither.

Read more from The San Francisco Chronicle

Uber and Lyft remain opposed to proposed regulations on drivers

Ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft remain strongly against a bill that would impose new regulations on its drivers. The proposal includes a new $300 annual fee, fingerprinting and obtaining a special state license.

Read more from NPR Atlanta

Trouble getting an Uber ride? Drivers might think you're a jerk

Uber customers can rate their drivers, but it turns out that drivers are also rating those customers, and that rating could get some riders blacklisted.

Read more from CBS SF Bay Area

Florida bill seeks strict regulations on TNCs

A bill (HB 17) introduced in the Florida House by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fort Walton Beach) calls for Transportation Network Companies to abide by stricter insurance regulations and conduct state and national driver background checks.

Read more from LCT Magazine

Coverage in question while offering an Uber ride

Drivers who are considering a job with a transportation network company should be sure to do their homework on auto insurance needs, according to local insurance agents and critics of ride-sharing services.

Read more from The Columbian

Class action accuses Uber of lying about safety checks

Uber Technologies Inc. was hit with a consumer class action alleging that it lies to riders about the safety checks it conducts on its drivers and their cars, the plaintiff said,after district attorneys in Los Angeles and San Francisco raised similar claims. 

Read more from Law360

Uber drivers face fines in Paris

Uber has been facing regulatory headaches as it rapidly expands around the globe, and adding to those are new fines in France for drivers viewed as being illegal chauffeurs.

Read more from The New York Times