2011 Louisiana Laws
Revised Statutes
TITLE 32 — Motor vehicles and traffic regulation
RS 32:411 — Deposit of license in lieu of security upon arrest; receipt; licensee to have license or receipt in immediate possession; notification to vehicle owner; surrender of license; issuance of temporary permits

§411. Deposit of license in lieu of security upon arrest; receipt; licensee to have license or receipt in immediate possession; notification to vehicle owner; surrender of license; issuance of temporary permits

A. Except as is otherwise specifically provided in this Section, the deposit of a driver's license in connection with the issuance of a citation alleging the commission of a traffic offense is prohibited.

B.(1) An arresting officer may retain the driver's license of an operator of a motor vehicle when that operator has been issued a citation alleging that the operator was:

(a) Operating the motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances.

(b) Exceeding the speed limit by twenty-five miles per hour or more.

(c) Exceeding the speed limit in a school zone.

(d) Driving with a suspended license.

(e) Drag racing.

(f) Cited for failure to maintain compulsory security.

(2) An arresting officer may retain the driver's license of an operator when the operator was involved in an accident in which a person was injured, or when an operator:

(a) Is alleged to have committed the same offense twice within a period of one hour.

(b) Is alleged by the investigating law enforcement officer to have a medical condition which could result in suspension or revocation of his driver's license under the provisions of R.S. 32:414(E), provided that the arresting officer first consults with his superior officer as to his specific observations and such superior officer concurs with the issuing officer's belief.

(3) In each instance listed in this Subsection, the provisions of Subsections C through H of this Section shall apply.

C. Whenever any person lawfully possessed of a driver's license issued to him by either:

(1) The Department of Public Safety and Corrections; or

(2) The appropriate agency of another state if such person resides in this state and either:

(a) Is on active duty with the armed forces of the United States or is a dependent of any person described in this Subparagraph; or

(b) Is enrolled in a Louisiana college or university

is arrested and charged with a violation of the Louisiana Highway Regulatory Act or any municipal or parish ordinance regulating traffic in any municipality or in any parish he shall have the option of depositing his driver's license with the arresting officer in lieu of bail.

(3) The arresting officer shall immediately forward any license so deposited to the sheriff, district attorney, or city court clerk of the parish in which the charge is filed, except in the parish of Orleans, where the license shall be forwarded to the clerk of the traffic court. Additionally, any person described in Paragraph (2) of this Subsection must also furnish satisfactory proof of his residency in this state by either providing the arresting officer with a copy of orders assigning him, or the person whose dependent he is, to an area inside Louisiana or with a valid student identification card issued by a Louisiana college or university.

(4) This Subsection does not apply when the arresting officer has probable cause to believe that the person charged has committed an offense as defined in Title 14 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950. The arresting officer shall take these persons forthwith before the nearest or most accessible magistrate having jurisdiction.

D. Whenever any person as described in Subsection C of this Section deposits his driver's license as provided in said Subsection, the arresting officer shall issue said person a receipt for said license upon a form approved or provided by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, and thereafter said person shall be permitted to operate a motor vehicle upon the public highways of this state during the pendency of the case in which the license was deposited.

E. The district attorney, sheriff, or clerk of a court accepting the license as provided in Subsection C of this Section, shall forward as soon as practicable to the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, the license of a driver deposited in lieu of bail if the driver fails to appear in answer to the charge filed against him. The department shall not return, reissue, or renew the license until authorized to do so by the forwarding court.

F.(1) The licensee shall have his license in his immediate possession at all times when driving a motor vehicle and shall display it upon demand of any officer or agent of the department or any police officer of the state, parish, or municipality, except that where the licensee has previously deposited his license as provided in Subsection C of this Section, and has received a receipt, as provided in Subsection D of this Section, the licensee shall display the receipt upon demand of any officer or agent of the department or any police officer of the state, parish, or municipality, the same to serve as a substitute for the license until the license is returned to the licensee. However, when an officer or agent of the department or any police officer of the state, or any parish or municipality has reasonable grounds to believe a person has committed an offense of driving without a valid driver's license in his possession, the police officer shall make every practical attempt based on identifying information provided by the person to confirm that the person has been issued a valid driver's license. If the police officer determines that the person has been issued a valid driver's license which is neither under revocation, suspension, or cancellation, but that the license is not in his possession, the peace officer shall issue a written summons to the offender in accordance with law, commanding him to appear and answer the charge.

(2) The provisions of this Subsection shall in no way limit the peace officer from issuing a citation for operating a motor vehicle without physical possession of a valid driver's license.

G. When a person is arrested or issued a summons for a violation of R.S. 14:98 or 98.1, the arresting officer shall determine whether the person is the owner of the vehicle used. If the person is not the owner, the arresting officer, his agency of employment, or the Department of Public Safety and Corrections shall take all reasonable measures to identify and locate the registered owner and notify him of the arrest or summons. Such notification may be oral or written. A record shall be kept of whether or not such notification was given.

H.(1) When a fine is levied against a person convicted of any offense as described in Subsection C and the defendant is granted an extension of time to pay the fine, the judge of the court having jurisdiction may order the driver's license to be surrendered to the sheriff or official of the court collecting fines for a period of time not to exceed one hundred eighty days. If, after expiration of one hundred eighty days, the defendant has not paid the fine, the sheriff or official of the court designated to collect fines shall forward the license to the Department of Public Safety and Corrections.

(2) Upon receipt of a surrendered driver's license, the sheriff or court official responsible for collection of such fines shall issue a temporary permit for a period not to exceed one hundred eighty days or for a period of time set forth by the judge having jurisdiction. The Department of Public Safety and Corrections shall devise such temporary permits and provide for a procedure for distributing such permits, all by the promulgation of rules and regulations according to the Administrative Procedure Act. After final promulgation of such rules and regulations, or after six months from August 15, 1995, whichever occurs first, the temporary permits shall be distributed to the courts or other agencies responsible for the collection of the fines and court costs for such violations.

(3) The department shall not return, reissue, or renew a driver's license in its possession pursuant to this Section until payment of the fine and any additional administrative cost, fee, or penalty required by the judge having the jurisdiction and any other cost, fee, or penalty required by the department.

Amended by Acts 1958, No. 512, §1; Acts 1960, No. 591, §1; Acts 1966, No. 64, §1; Acts 1970, No. 490, §1; Acts 1972, No. 59, §1; Acts 1975, No. 497, §1; Acts 1976, No. 185, §1; Acts 1976, No. 520, §1; Acts 1979, No. 699, §1; Acts 1982, No. 294, §1; Acts 1987, No. 586, §1, eff. July 15, 1987 and Jan. 1, 1988; Acts 1989, No. 293, §1, eff. June 27, 1989; Acts 1993, No. 600, §1; Acts 1995, No. 1036, §1; Acts 1997, No. 807, §1; Acts 1997, No. 1288, §1; Acts 1997, No. 1296, §3, eff. July 15, 1997.