Good luck trying to order an Uber in St. Bernard Parish – The company is no longer operating there.
Uber stopped service in St. Bernard Parish after the parish council voted for an ordinance to regulate ride-sharing companies.
The Parish didn’t want Uber gone, but the company ceased service after an ordinance to regulate ride-sharing companies was voted into law by the council last week. It requires companies to pay a 50-cent fee per ride and obtain an annual $2,500 permit.
All the money goes to the parish, though council member Howard Luna says the measure, which was based on a similar one passed in Gretna in 2016, was passed because of safety reasons.
The ordinance requires drivers to undergo background checks and take periodic drug tests. It calls for vehicle inspections and for drivers to have a $1 million liability insurance policy.
The parish also says the law helps put ride-sharing companies on a level playing field with tax companies.
Earlier in May, state lawmakers stopped efforts to enact similar regulations statewide.
“Uber was kind of the saving grace as far as getting around if you share a car or don’t have a car because taxi rates are still kind of outrageous,” said Trea Swindle, a St. Bernard Parish Resident.
Uber says a patchwork of conflicting rules has prevented them from operating in various parishes in Louisiana, St. Bernard included.
“I get it. It’s about permits and licenses and they want to keep it fair as far as the taxi cabs go, but I just hope they can fix the regulations that they passed and maybe be a bit more lenient,’ Michael Gagliano, an Uber driver, said.
Passengers can still take an Uber into St. Bernard Parish, they just can’t hail a ride while inside the parish. Lyft, another ride-sharing service, is still operating.