Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s office released a statement warning party bus operators that the city of New Orleans is cracking down on regulations.
The statement, released on Wednesday, said the city considers unregulated party buses a public safety issue. While they did not give information on the number of party buses out of compliance, Cantrell’s office said most party buses and trailers used to transport passengers are rarely issued proper licensing.
The release comes after Mayor Cantrell and the City Council agreed in November to launch a public awareness campaign for party bus safety, creating a list of violations for city inspectors to enforce.
Licensing and equipment requirements are included on the list, with the same certificate of public necessity for party buses as for taxis, limousines and tour buses.
Party bus operators without proper licensing can be ticketed and arrested as well as having their vehicle impounded.
On the Mayor’s list of concerns party bus customers should look out for include license plates, roofs, trailers, and portable toilets on board.
No license plate usually means the vehicle is not properly insured or registered. Buses with no roof and trailers hitched to vehicles are considered safety hazards, and portable toilets on board are considered a sanitary hazard.
Party bus operators can get more information on registering with the city’s Department of Safety and Permits by contacting the Ground Transportation Bureau at [email protected] or visiting the department’s website.
