<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The Informer last Monday answered a question about taxicab regulations in Lake Charles, noting that the city requires cabs to bear permit numbers — i.e., the digits paired with the letters “CNPC” on the body of the vehicles — and feature meters with flags.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">That prompted another reader to ask about the ride-sharing service Uber:</span>

<span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: ‘Lucida Sans’;" class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Since taxis have so many regulations, why is Uber allowed to operate with so few?</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Uber hasn’t applied for a license to operate in Lake Charles, said city spokesman Matt Young. But in cities where it has begun providing services, he said, municipal officials have adopted rules that apply to the company and its drivers.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Uber is available in Beaumont, Texas, and Baton Rouge, Lafayette and New Orleans. In Lafayette, for example, the City-Parish Council last year adopted regulations for ride-sharing services.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“The regulations … require Uber and similar services to inspect vehicles, set up a system to handle customer complaints, and check criminal background, driving record and sex offender registry on drivers every six months,” reporter Richard Burgess wrote for The (Baton Rouge) Advocate in August.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“The companies are required to suspend drivers charged with serious offenses and terminate drivers if they are convicted. The requirements are similar to what’s already in place for taxicab companies, but in most cases the ride-sharing companies are tasked with policing their own drivers while city-parish government oversees background checks and vehicle inspections for taxi operations.”</span>

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<span style="font-weight: bold;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">Online:</span> <span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">www.uber.com; www.lafayettela.gov.</span>

<span class="R~sep~AHeadBrief">Police chief, sheriff earn over $100K</span>

<span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: ‘Lucida Sans’;" class="R~sep~ACopyBody">What is the salary of the Lake Charles police chief, and what is the salary of the Calcasieu Parish sheriff?</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Police Chief Don Dixon earns $113,942 a year, said City</span> <span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Administrator John Cardone.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Sheriff Tony Mancuso earns $156,118.80 a year, said Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Kim Myers.</span>

<span class="R~sep~AHeadBrief">Cans’ curbside time limited by LC code</span>

<span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: ‘Lucida Sans’;" class="R~sep~ACopyBody">I have a neighbor that leaves his trash can out in front of his house in the neutral ground all the time. Is it against the law to leave your trash can on the street?</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Yes.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“Container and other items shall be so placed for removal before the hour of 7:00 a.m., on the days of collection, except</span> <span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">that the containers and items may be placed out during the evening preceding the day of collection, and such containers shall be removed no later than 7:00 p.m. on the day of collection,” reads Section 9-5 of the Lake Charles code.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">To report violations, call ordinance enforcement officials at 491-1334.</span>

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<span style="font-weight: bold;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">Online:</span> <span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">www.cityoflakecharles.com.</span>

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<span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">The I</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">nform</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">er answers questions from rea</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">ders each Sunday, Monday a</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">nd Wednesday. It is re</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">searched and written by</span> <span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">Andrew Perzo</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">, an</span> <span style="font-style: italic; font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">American Press</span> <span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">staff wri</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">ter. To ask a question, call</span> <span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">494-409</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">8 and leave voice mail, or ema</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">il informer@americanpress.com.</span>