EXCLUSIVE: Migrants on Unregistered Mopeds in DC Use Food Delivery Apps—Violating Company Rules
Tim Kennedy / Christian Lasval /
Migrants in the District of Columbia are driving unregistered mopeds and motorcycles, making food deliveries on popular apps, such as Uber Eats and DoorDash—violating both companies’ terms of use in the process.
In April, The Daily Signal launched an investigation into the unprecedented rise in motorcycle and moped traffic in Washington, D.C. The news outlet uncovered that drivers, many of whom entered the country illegally over the past four years, were operating unregistered motorized vehicles in broad daylight, facing no consequences for those actions.
Following The Daily Signal’s reporting, D.C. police launched Operation Ride Right to clamp down on these illicit activities. To date, more than 200 mopeds have been impounded, more than 60 people have been arrested, and 207 citations have been handed out.
Simultaneously, many of those drivers are logging into Uber Eats and DoorDash to make deliveries.
As The Washington Post previous reported, some illegal aliens in the District are “renting” login information from approved users—a serious violation of Uber Eats’ community guidelines.
The Daily Signal launched an investigation to ascertain whether the same migrants driving unregistered mopeds are also using apps such as Uber Eats and Door Dash, and if so, how?
On Wednesday, we placed four separate delivery orders, two on Door Dash and two on Uber Eats, from various D.C. restaurants.
Within an hour, two of the four orders were delivered by migrants driving unregistered motorbikes.
Our first DoorDash driver, “Jeremy,” arrived on a 150cc motorcycle with a “49cc” tag affixed to the back and no license plate.
(Photo: Tim Kennedy/The Daily Signal)
As previously uncovered, many illegal aliens use these same fake plates to evade police detection.
Jeremy confirmed that the DoorDash account was his and that he crossed into the U.S. five months ago.
We asked him if he needed a driver’s license or Social Security number to drive a motorcycle with DoorDash. “No,” he said.
DoorDash drivers are required to follow all local laws. Driving an unregistered motorcycle is against D.C. law.
When asked what its policy is regarding drivers using unregistered vehicles, a DoorDash spokesperson said the following:
“We’re always working to help ensure that streets remain vibrant and active in the communities we serve. The overwhelming majority of Dashers do the right thing, and like all drivers must follow the rules of the road. If they don’t, then they face consequences—just like anyone else.”
According to the company, sharing Dasher login information is strictly prohibited and can result in account deactivation. In August 2023, the company rolled out an additional screening process, “Identity Re-Verification,” in the U.S.
If the Dasher app detects signs of possible account inauthenticity, users would be prompted to reverify their identity by taking a selfie. Persona, a third-party ID-verification firm, would then check to see whether the selfie matches the government ID on file.
Dasher applicants must compete a background check using their Social Security number.
Our second delivery was picked up by an Uber Eats driver on a bicycle supposedly named “Damian.”
Surprisingly, our driver pulled up not on a bicycle, but instead an unregistered motorized vehicle. He affixed the same “49cc” tag to the back and was carrying a bag with “www.flyebike.com” edged in large green ink on the back.
We asked him what his name was. He said “Derwin,” not Damian, the name linked to the driver account.
Derwin, a migrant from Venezuela who crossed into the U.S. seven months ago, told us the account was his.
When asked how large his engine was, the driver said he did not know.
The Daily Signal went to a motorbike dealer in the District of Columbia when we first started reporting on this issue. At the time, the dealer only sold 50+cc bikes (motorcycles), very similar to the one Derwin arrived on.
(Photo: Tim Kennedy/The Daily Signal)
We then asked him the obvious: Why does the application tell us you’re on a bicycle, when you are driving a motorized bike?
Derwin said that he selected “bicycle” through the Uber Eats app.
We asked him if the Uber Eats app asked him for his driver’s license and whether he had undergone any security checks while using a “bicycle.” He said no.
The Heritage Foundation’s Christian Lasval chats with Uber Eats delivery driver Derwin (aka Damian). (Photo: Tim Kennedy/The Daily Signal)
According to Uber Eats, whether using a motorized scooter under 50cc (moped) or a car, all drivers must be at least 19 years old and have a valid driver’s license in their name. If delivering on foot or by bike, applicants need a government-issued ID.
We asked Derwin if he had ever been stopped by the police. He said no, but that he has recently noticed law enforcement impounding other people’s motorcycles.
An Uber spokesperson told the Daily Signal:
All couriers who deliver with Uber are required to hold a valid right to work in the U.S., pass a criminal-background check, and be over the age of 18.Sharing accounts is prohibited by our Community Guidelines and is something we take seriously. We have steps in place—such as our Real-Time ID Check, which requires couriers to periodically take a selfie to help verify their identity—to ensure that the courier delivering your food is the person the account belongs to.
If a courier is found to be sharing their account or using a fraudulent account, we remove their access to our platform.
According to Uber, all applicants are required to provide the company with a Social Security number and valid government-issued ID to undergo a background check.
According to Uber’s Community Guidelines, “delivery people using a vehicle are required by law to maintain a valid driver’s license, insurance, and vehicle registration.”
The Daily Signal previous reported that some illegal aliens can obtain a temporary D.C. DMV [driver’s] license, that’s valid for a maximum of 18 months.
According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, illegal aliens either paroled into the United States or those who have applied for asylum and their application has been pending for at least 150 days, may submit Form I-765, Application for Employment. Migrants can then, according to the Social Security Administration, complete a “section on the application to request [a Social Security] card.”
While it’s technically possible for illegal aliens in the District of Columbia to obtain driver’s licenses and Social Security numbers, allowing them to apply to deliver food for apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats, their insistent use of unregistered mopeds and motorcycles violates both companies’ terms of use.