Editor’s note: This story has been updated since its original publication.
State Rep. Paula Davis, R-Baton Rouge, has decided to pull a bill she filed last week that would have required drivers for Uber and other ridesharing companies to get chauffeurs licenses.
The bill had come under fire from some members of the Metro Council, which was expected to go on record tonight officially opposing the measure. Davis’ legislative aide, Bonnie Kolb, tells Daily Report that Davis decided to defer the bill “after talking with all parties involved.”
A spokesman for Uber says the company is pleased with the development and that it would have strongly opposed the measure. Davis’ decision effectively means the measure is dead for this legislative session.
Original story:
A bill by state Rep. Paula Davis, R-Baton Rouge, that would require drivers for Uber and other ridesharing companies to get chauffeurs licenses isn’t sitting well with some members of the Metro Council, who fear the additional regulation could drive ridesharing services out of the market.
Councilmembers Buddy Amoroso, Ryan Heck and John Delgado are asking their fellow council members at tonight’s meeting to go on the record formally opposing Davis’ House Bill 1083 and asking the Capital Region Legislative Delegation to vote against it.
Though the council measure, if approved, will not carry any legal weight, Delgado says he believes it’s important for the delegation to know how strongly the council feels about the issue.
“Uber in Baton Rouge is working,” he says. “In the first year we’ve seen a nearly 18% reduction in DWIs, which is a testament to their success, so to add more regulation and make it more difficult and onerous to operate doesn’t make sense.”
Davis’ bill states that any person who uses a motor vehicle to provide transportation for a fee, profit, compensation or for hire shall fit the definition of a chauffeur and, therefore, be required to obtain a commercial driver’s license.
While Uber hasn’t said the additional regulation would be a problem for the company or its drivers, Delgado believes the bill, if passed, would have a detrimental impact on Uber by hampering its ability to recruit drivers.
“Why would we want to do that?” he says.
Uber officials could not be reached for comment in time for publication, but local Uber driver Stephen Rice, who also drives for Lyft in New Orleans, says the additional regulation would “be a burden.” However, he isn’t familiar with the bill and can’t say yet whether it would make him less inclined to drive for Uber and Lyft.
Davis introduced her bill April 5, but it has not yet been heard in committee. She did not respond to a request for comment before this afternoon’s deadline.
—Stephanie Riegel
