Jury Duty In Macomb County? Uber Will Get You There

Every two years or so a jury duty letter comes in the mail, and most of us immediately start thinking of ways to get out of it. Jury duty may be an annoying civic responsibility, but one US county is experimenting with a ridesharing offer that could make it a bit better. The new service is being launched in Macomb County north of Detroit, Michigan; it isn’t clear if it will expand in the future.

Uber announced the news on June 29, saying it will involve free roundtrip rides to and from the Macomb County Courthouse for those who have to report for jury duty. This will be a 60-day trial that gives jurors a total of $40 credtt for their rides to and from the courthouse. Macomb County clerk Carmella Sabaugh says some jurors have a hard time finding transportation, while others are concerned about finding parking or driving in bad weather says some jurors have a hard time finding transportation, while others are concerned about finding parking or driving in bad weather. So hopefully this service will help solve some of these problems.

“The right to a jury of your peers is fundamental to our democracy, and Uber is helping Macomb County put innovation into the justice system to safeguard this right,” said Sabaugh.  “Uber’s technology connects jurors with safe rides, frees up parking in the city, and creates an opportunity for Macomb County residents to earn extra cash by driving jurors to court to do their civic duty.”

Of course, the big challenge is that this is merely an experiment. Uber is taking care of the bill during the trial, but what happens when the county has to pay up?

Source: Slash Gear