Mandeville Mayor Eddie Price gave up his city-issued Ford Expedition several months ago as a result of two incidents involving alcohol.

Now he wants it back.

Earlier this year Price was stopped on the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway for smashing through a tollgate and driving several miles without headlights. The Causeway Police officers who pulled Price over failed to issue a field sobriety test or a citation. Their actions were caught on their dashboard cameras.

After an investigation into the incident revealed the officers gave the mayor preferential treatment, they resigned.

The Chief of the Causeway Police Felix Loicano also resigned, ending a 35-year stint in law enforcement.

Price was later issued a citation for the event and a fine for the damage done to the tollbooth barrier.

Soon after, two Mandeville police officers reported they too had a run-in with Price.

Mandeville Police Chief Tom Buell said his officers reported they pulled Price over in 2006 after he nearly collided with one of them on Monroe Street. Price admitted to drinking that night, but the officers chose not to issue a field sobriety test or a citation. Instead, they drove the mayor back to City Hall.

Later that night, they received a call from a gas station attendant describing an apparently inebriated Price, but by the time officers arrived, Price was already gone.

With those incidents, along with the impeding pressure from the public, Price decided to relinquish his vehicular privileges and enroll in a 12-week counseling program.

He recently finished the program and is now interested in getting back behind the wheel of the city-owned Expedition.

“I feel it was a success, and so does the doctor,” Price said.

According to the city’s charter, Price has the authority to reacquire the city’s vehicle without anyone’s permission, but with respect to the City Council, he wants to discuss his decision with them first.

“They ought to at least hear from me about the program and what I went through and even from the doctor before I drive the vehicle again,” Price said. “Not only are they my colleagues, but they’re my friends.”