? Macomb County Clerk/Register of Deeds Carmella Sabaugh and Uber have announced extension of their service to provide jurors with a ride to court and back.
“We are pleased to partner with Uber to encourage civic participation and provide jurors with a free ride to and from court, at no cost to the county budget,” said Sabaugh.
Along with the ride, Sabaugh said, jurors are offered “wireless Internet, free book delivery, restaurant-style pagers, an ATM and change machine, and a visit from a snack cart.”
“The bottom line is we want jury duty to be a good experience in Macomb County,” she said.
In June 2015, the transportation network company and Sabaugh began a pilot program to offer on-demand transportation to and from the courthouse in downtown Mount Clemens.
Potential jurors receive an Uber promotional code good for a $20 ride each way, or $40 round trip, to and from the courthouse.
After positive feedback from jurors, the two sides have decided to extend the original partnership.
After jurors receive a summons and answer the online questionnaire, they receive a link to create an Uber account.
Jurors who choose to use the offer will be picked up at their location of choice and dropped off at the courthouse.They may also request a ride home.
Riders are encouraged to use the fare estimate feature in the Uber app to determine if the promotional code covers the round-trip fare.
If the cost of a trip exceeds $20, then the juror can decide to pay the difference or get to court another way.
Sabaugh said more than 16,000 jurors visit the Macomb County Court Building annually.
Most jurors serve jury duty only one day, she said, but if a juror must serve two or more days, then the juror would pay for an Uber ride on those subsequent days, or use other transportation.
Since the programs inception, more than 200 potential jurors have taken advantage of the free rides, Sabaugh said.
Jurors need a smartphone to use the Uber app. For jurors who do not have a smartphone, Sabaugh’s office offers a free bus ticket.
Uber said it absorbs the cost of the rides as a public service and to spread the word about the company.
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