SFMTA Supports Paying $600 for Substance Abuse Professional Evaluation

The Taxi Services team at the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) continues to find ways to support the taxi industry. The SFMTA is now paying the $600 cost of the Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) evaluation for taxi drivers who failed the drug test as part of the driver permit renewal process.

A Substance Abuse Professional is a licensed physician, psychologist, social worker, certified employee assistance professional, or nationally certified addiction counselor with knowledge of and clinical experience in the diagnosis and treatment of alcohol-related disorders who evaluates employees who have violated a drug and alcohol regulation and makes recommendations concerning education, treatment, follow-up testing, and aftercare.

When taxi drivers test positive for prohibited drugs or over 0.04 for Alcohol, the SFMTA suspends the driver's A-Card, and the Third Party Administrator refers the driver to a SAP. If  Drivers wishes to return to work as a taxi driver, they must properly follow the rehabilitation program prescribed by the SAP. The SAP will provide a written release to the Third Party Administrator certifying the driver’s eligibility to be considered for return to work only after the driver has signed a return-to-work agreement. The return-to-work agreement outlines the terms and conditions of continuing care and follow-up drug testing, which shall be the terms and conditions under which the SFMTA lifts the suspension of the Driver’s A-Card.