Driver Deactivation Policy

A driver may be deactivated only for a reason stated in this policy:

• Safety — conduct that endangers riders, the public or other drivers, including dangerous driving and assault.
• Zero tolerance — a substantiated report of driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol.
• Fraud — falsified documents, fake trips, fare manipulation or misuse of payment systems.
• Documents and eligibility — failing to keep a valid driver's licence, insurance, King County for-hire licence, vehicle endorsement or inspection, or a disqualifying background-check or driving-record result.
• Conduct — discrimination, harassment, refusing service animals, or repeated substantiated complaints.
• Legal requirement — where a regulator or the law requires it.

Ridelynk does not deactivate drivers for declining or cancelling trips at their discretion, for low ratings alone where they may reflect rider bias, or for exercising their legal rights.

Before a deactivation takes effect, we send the driver a written notice by email and in the app at least 14 days in advance. The driver can keep driving during the notice period.

The only exception is egregious misconduct — a safety threat, a substantiated zero-tolerance violation, or fraud — where deactivation may take effect immediately. In those cases the written notice is sent at the time of deactivation.

Every notice states the specific reason and category for the deactivation, the date it takes effect, the records we relied on (where we can share them without risking someone's safety or privacy), and how to appeal.

A deactivated driver can challenge the decision in the driver app (from the deactivation notice), explaining why the decision is wrong and adding any information we should consider. You may appeal during the notice period or after the deactivation takes effect. Submitting an appeal is free.

A person who was not involved in the original decision reviews the appeal. We aim to decide within 14 days of receiving it and will tell you in writing if we need more time or more information. The decision is sent by email and in the app, with a written explanation.

If the appeal succeeds, or the issue is fixed (for example, an expired document is renewed), the driver is reinstated without having to repeat onboarding. If a deactivation is found to be wrong, the driver's record is corrected.

We keep a record of every deactivation, notice, appeal and decision for at least 2 years, and provide it to the driver, King County or the City of Seattle on request.