ITA Issues Statement on Alderman Burke's Proposed Ordinance to Ban Driverless Cars

CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwired - September 26, 2016) - Today Fred Hoch, CEO of the Illinois Technology Association (ITA), issued a statement opposing the current Chicago City Council ordinance to ban driverless cars.

"The government absolutely should not get in the way of the tech industry and technological innovation. This has become the biggest challenge to our community, as city and state officials seek to solve their financial problems and protect special interests through increased regulations targeted at industry disrupters like AirBnB and Uber. These measures fail to understand the implications of the long term, and actively hurt the perception of Chicago as a tech-friendly city. The transformational leap in urban mobility offered by driverless cars (not to mention the positive environmental and public safety impact) deserves honest billing by our politicians. The on-demand economy is disrupting old-money industries that have provided valuable revenue streams to the city and state, and the government is opting to burden those disrupters. It is failing to consider the impact these regulations place on Chicago's ability to drive talent, investment and new innovation."

About ITA
The Illinois Technology Association (ITA) scales Illinois tech companies. With innovative resources that allow members to collaborate with each other, build their talent networks and elevate their local and national presence, ITA is the region's strongest advocate for fostering innovation and growth. Founded in 2005 and supporting 500-plus growth-stage tech companies, ITA has a rich history of driving the business forward. For more information, visit illinoistech.org, follow @ITAbuzz on Twitter or find us on LinkedIn.