Car dealers in the state would be allowed to sell vehicles with "split-view screens" so front-seat passengers but not drivers can watch a movie or DVD under a bill approved 81-7 Wednesday by the Louisiana House. House Bill 243 by Rep. Helena Moreno, D-New Orleans, now heads to the Senate for debate. Moreno said that the way the screen...
Car dealers in the state would be allowed to sell vehicles with "split-view screens" so front-seat passengers but not drivers can watch a movie or DVD under a bill approved 81-7 Wednesday by the Louisiana House.
Rep. Helena MorenoHouse Bill 243 by Rep. Helena Moreno, D-New Orleans, now heads to the Senate for debate.
Moreno said that the way the screen is installed the driver would not be able to view the screen other than to watch a navigational device. "It would almost be impossible for a driver to lean over to see" the passenger side of the screen, she said.
Backers of the bill say other states can now sell vehicles -- mainly high-end cars -- with the front-seat screens, but Louisiana law bans them.
Rep. Juan LaFonta, D-New Orleans, however, was not successful in pushing through a measure with an amendment sought by the city of New Orleans.
House Bill 343 got a 57-30 vote, but because it contained a fee to be assessed on taxis in New Orleans, it was 13 votes short of the 70 needed to pass in the House.
LaFonta's bill originally sought to create a special prestige license tag for the Louisiana Food Bank Association. The bill would have required the tag-holder to pay an annual royalty fee of $25 in addition to the normal cost of the plate based on the value of the vehicle, and a $3.50 fee to the Office of Motor Vehicles for administrative handling.
LaFonta amended the bill on the House floor for the city of New Orleans to issue special "For Hire" license tags for taxis and limousines. Those tags would have the vehicle's city permit number, and would have assessed a $50 annual fee on the drivers.
Special license tags for pedicabs and horse-drawn carriages would be $30 a year. The vehicles would still have to obtain the regular tags also and pay those fees.
LaFonta said after the city's amendment caused the problem, he will ask the House to strip it when it comes back for a second vote and make it apply just to creating the food bank license tag.
LaFonta, who is not seeking re-election, also tried to attach an amendment that would have banned the use of traffic enforcement cameras but he withdrew it after it ran into opposition.
Ed Anderson can be reached at eanderson@timespicayune.com or 225.342.5810.