In 2014, the city of New Orleans implemented a number of taxicab regulations that changed the way the vehicles for hire were regulated in the city. One of the regulations prohibited vehicles that are greater than 8 years old, which resulted in many taxicab drivers to go out and purchase new vehicles because their current cars were too old already.
On Monday, October 17th, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu vetoed a New Orleans City Council proposal that would have allowed taxicab drivers to keep their old cars on the road longer. The request came as companies like Uber and Lyft start to encroach on their market share. In fact, Uber and Lyft are not regulated by the city code.
What is the Mayor Saying
In a message from Landrieu, he said that extending the life of a taxicab to nine years would be “a reversal of various efforts his administration has made to make transportation options more consumer-friendly and safer. Additionally, he added that the City Council had made no alternative safety or performance standard options.
All is not over though.
Landrieu did say that he is working with the City Council on an ordinance that would allow taxicabs to operate past their eighth year by passing a special safety inspection. They are working on the requirements and ordinance now, though he did not specify any details, saying only that they would include “requirements beyond mileage.”
What the Taxicab Companies Saying
City Council members are not entirely on board with why the city imposed this specific expiration date on the cars even if they pass inspection. Apparently, the Deputy Mayor told City Council members that there was some known corruption around the Taxicab Bureau regarding tips on allowing taxicabs to work even if they failed inspection.
The owner of Coleman Cab Co. was disappointed of the Mayor’s veto, naturally, but was looking for other regulatory changes. He and other taxicab operators have suffered huge financial losses since New Orleans allowed Uber and Lyft to operate in the city limits. “There’s over 5,000 Uber drivers registered in New Orleans. When you have that kind of influx, no one’s making money,” Coleman said.
