The North Carolina General Assembly announced that the state enacted a law making transportation network company driver impersonation a crime, with enhanced penalties if committed alongside another felony.
According to the new statute, rideshare services rely on user confidence that their driver is legitimate and verified. The law addresses this by prohibiting false representations, imitation of branded trade dress or logos, and other actions that mislead the public into believing an individual is an authorized driver. By codifying specific impersonation conduct into criminal law, North Carolina aims to deter misconduct before it escalates into more serious offenses.
The legislation classifies most driver impersonation violations as a Class 2 misdemeanor but elevates the offense to a Class H felony when it occurs during another felony. The state’s misdemeanor sentencing grid outlines confinement ranges that increase with prior convictions, starting at 1–30 days for individuals with no criminal record and extending to 1–60 days for repeat offenders.
In contrast, Colorado currently relies on broader impersonation and fraud statutes rather than a specific law tailored to rideshare driver impersonation. Attention to this issue intensified following a Denver case where an individual allegedly posed as a Lyft driver in February 2024, leading to unlawful sexual contact charges in May 2025. This case highlights the differences between Colorado’s general statutes and North Carolina’s targeted approach.
The North Carolina General Assembly serves as the state’s legislative body responsible for establishing criminal offenses and penalties statewide. It consists of 50 senators and 120 representatives who serve two-year terms, convening primarily in Raleigh at the Legislative Building.
