Could Waymo accept riders in New Orleans? See proposed rules for the robotaxis

The proposal, from New Orleans City Council President JP Morrell, represents the first city effort to regulate robotaxi companies.

"You can't give them an advantage simply because they're a new technology,” Morrell said of the robotaxis.

But Waymo, a California-based self-driving vehicle company, has spent a year in New Orleans already, putting human test-drivers behind the wheel of its autonomous cars in preparation for its launch.

But he’s “pretty confident” the city can regulate robotaxis, just like it regulates Ubers, Lyfts and regular taxicabs.

The City Council may not have the authority to bar Waymo from the streets, Morrell added.