Massachusetts Blocks Public Access to Ride-Share Sexual Assault Data Despite Rising Cases

Suffolk County prosecutors Erin Murphy and Rita Muse are sounding off about a growing problem: ride-share drivers raping heavily intoxicated passengers.

The two told NewsCenter 5 WCVB that assaults against intoxicated passengers by ride-share drivers occur more often than acknowledged. However, convictions are challenging since juries must prove both intoxication and the driver's awareness of incapacity.

Murphy and Muse acknowledge working with legislators to create a bill that would criminalize sex between a ride-share driver and a passenger. The bill has the support of the Boston City Council and Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden, according to WCVB.

A lack of transparency has been the biggest plague in identifying the scope of the problem. The Department of Public Utilities (DPU), which oversees the ride-share industry, told WCVB it could not provide records regarding allegations of driver sexual misconduct. DPU officials cited a state law that exempts the records from disclosure under the state's public records law.

The DPU, however, released some statistics that show rising actions against drivers for sexual misconduct: 371 in 2023, 436 in 2024, and 469 in 2025 — a 24% rise from 2023.

New regulations that went into effect in April, however, require clearer categorization of sexual misconduct by ride-share drivers, but detailed case-level information remains protected by law.

“The DPU has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to sexual misconduct. If we learn that a ride-share driver has potentially acted dangerously towards a passenger, we will suspend the driver's clearance certificate, prohibiting them from ever driving for any ride-share company in Massachusetts,” a DPU spokesperson confirmed with WCVB.

Murphy and Muse argue the public should see more disclosure from ride-share companies about risk levels and known misconduct to assess safety before using their services.