Lyft Driver Suspensions

Are you a Lyft driver who was recently suspended because the TNC Division determined you were no longer suitable to transport passengers? Is not driving for Lyft going to cause you financial strain? Are you interested in learning about your administrative rights following your suspension? If so, the Law Office of Patrick J. Murphy can help. Attorney Murphy represents Uber and Lyft drivers in TNC Division hearings and appeals and can help you set the record straight so you can get back on the road.

If you go to log in to your Lyft driver account and you see that your account has been deactivated, it can be both alarming. Often, drivers have no idea why their account was deactivated, adding to the frustration.

Lyft can deactivate your driver account for any reason; however, often, Lyft is required under state law to deactivate drivers’ accounts who are convicted for traffic citations or fail routine background checks.

When you first applied to become a Lyft driver, you had to go through a background check. In reality, however, there were two background checks that were performed: one by the Transportation Network Company Division (“TNC Division”) of the Department of Public Utilities and one by Lyft. Before you were allowed to drive for the company, you had to pass both background checks. However, in addition to these initial background checks, both the TNC Division and Lyft conduct ongoing background checks. So, if you received a traffic ticket or were arrested for a crime, this will come up on your background check, and Lyft may be forced to deactivate or suspend your account.

Technically, Lyft can deactivate your account just for getting a traffic ticket; however, in practice, the company wants to keep as many highly-rated drivers on its roster as possible. However, under the Massachusetts rideshare regulations, Lyft must “immediately suspend a , and notify the division of the suspension, upon learning of and verifying a driver's arrest for a crime or a driver's citation for a driving infraction that would render the driver unsuitable to provide transportation network services.” Based on this language, if a ticket or arrest gets thrown out, drivers may be able to reinstate their account. This highlights the importance of not immediately paying a traffic ticket because paying a traffic ticket is an acknowledgment of your guilt. This can make it difficult—if not impossible—to get your account reactivated.

Yes, there are many ways in which a Rideshare driver lawyer can help to reactivate drivers’ accounts after Lyft driver suspension. From contesting a traffic ticket to fighting a recent arrest to correcting reporting errors, an attorney can determine why you were suspended and take the necessary action to get you back on the road.

A rideshare driver lawyer is also important because the TNC Division has the authority to issue a “discretionary negative determination,” which essentially allows the Division to deny your request based on “reliable information” that you put another person’s safety in jeopardy or that allowing you to continue driving for Lyft is “not consistent with the public interest.” Given the broad discretion the TNC Division has when deciding whether to revoke your background check clearance certificate, it is essential that you present a compelling case for reinstatement.

If you recently learned that your Lyft Driver account was deactivated and want to learn more about your options to appeal the Divisions decision, reach out to the Law Office of Patrick J. Murphy. Attorney Murphy is a Boston criminal defense and traffic ticket lawyer with more than 25 years of experience helping his clients defend against all types of offenses. In more recent years, he has developed a robust rideshare driver practice, helping Uber and Lyft drivers in Massachusetts maintain their ability to earn an income. To learn more, and to schedule a free consultation today, call (617) 367-0450 today. You can also connect with Attorney Murphy through the firm’s online contact form.