Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2005 | 9:28 a.m.
CHALMETTE, La. -- St. Bernard Parish has ordered a 180-day moratorium on new video poker truck stops while the parish government tries to change zoning laws to restrict the locations of the mini-casinos.
The parish council ordered the stop Tuesday, despite two pending applications for new truck stops.
Some residents -- and owners of existing truck stops -- say the parish already has enough gambling outlets. Before the vote, the ordinance's author, council member Judy Hoffmeister, amended the measure to state that the two pending projects will be allowed to proceed during the moratorium.
During 1996 parish-by-parish referendums on video poker, St. Bernard Parish voters decided to keep the games, which were banned in 33 parishes. Several alternatives are under study, including whether to establish a special district for gambling in the parish.
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