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Taxicab rule case goes to Louisiana federal court
July 31, 2012
Louisiana: Taxicab owners in New Orleans could breathe a temporary sigh of relief when Judge Eldon Fallon yesterday extended a restraining order on new rules for the businesses. In March, Mayor Mitch Landrieu announced a range of new regulations with which taxicabs need to comply, effective August 1st. The new rules are meant to improve the appearance and convenience of the cabs, though attorneys for the collective group say that their clients must shoulder an unfair burden to enact them.[1]
Yesterday, Judge Fallon received the case from the Civil District Court. Because of already scheduled hearings, he is not available to hear this case before Friday.
Following are some aspects of the new regulations:
- labeling city-issued permits as privileges, not rights. The effect of this would strip owners of their value, since previously the permits were sold or passed down.
- installing credit card machines, GPS devices, and security systems in each cab
- as of August 1, cabs can not be more than eleven years old. That age will eventually get down to a maximum of five years old.[1]
Those who filed suit claimed the new rules are arbitrary, since the age of vehicles does not apply to any other car in the city. Also, they believe that monitoring devices in the cars violates the privacy of the drivers.[1]
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