2016 Louisiana Laws
Revised Statutes
TITLE 32 - Motor Vehicles and Traffic Regulation
RS 32:404 - Operation of motor vehicles by nonresidents, students, and military personnel and dependents; reciprocity agreements with foreign countries

§404. Operation of motor vehicles by nonresidents, students, and military personnel and dependents; reciprocity agreements with foreign countries

A. A nonresident or a nonresident minor, who has been licensed to drive or operate a motor vehicle under the laws of his home state and who has in his immediate possession a valid license issued to him by his home state, shall be permitted to drive a motor vehicle in this state without examination or license for a period not to exceed ninety days. The department is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations covering the case of any person whose home state does not require a license, and they shall have the full force and effect of law.

B. A student attending a Louisiana school but who is domiciled in another state, and who has in his immediate possession both a valid license issued to him by his home state and a current student identification card, shall be permitted to drive a motor vehicle in this state without examination or Louisiana license during his enrollment as a student and for not more than ninety days thereafter.

C.(1) A person on active duty with the armed forces of the United States and stationed within Louisiana who is domiciled in another state and who has in his immediate possession both a valid license issued to him by his home state and a current military identification card, hereafter in this Section referred to as a person on active duty, may drive a motor vehicle in this state without examination or Louisiana license during the period of residency in Louisiana and for not more than ninety days thereafter.

(2) A resident dependent of any person on active duty with the armed forces of the United States and stationed within Louisiana but who is domiciled in another state and who has in his immediate possession both a valid license issued to him by his home state and a current military dependent identification card, hereafter in this Section referred to as a military dependent, shall be permitted to drive a motor vehicle in this state without examination or Louisiana license during the period of residency with the supporting member of the armed forces while stationed in Louisiana and for not more than ninety days thereafter.

D. A nonresident, a student, a person on active duty, or a military dependent who has in his immediate possession a license not valid in his home state, but which has not been revoked or suspended, may be issued a temporary license for a period not to exceed ten days for the purpose of allowing such person a period of time sufficient to acquire a valid license in his home state. Only one temporary license shall be issued to the same individual within the twelve-month period immediately following the issue of a temporary license.

E. Except as provided herein, each nonresident, student, person on active duty, or military dependent must meet all the requirements set forth in Chapter 2 of this Title except as to residence.

F. The deputy secretary of public safety services of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections is hereby authorized to promulgate rules and regulations as may be necessary to enter into reciprocity agreements with foreign countries. The rules shall specify that the driver's license standards of a foreign country shall be comparable to those of this state. The rules shall also require foreign drivers, who are operating a motor vehicle in Louisiana under such a reciprocity agreement, to comply with the compulsory motor vehicle liability security laws of this state.

Amended by Acts 1954, No. 165, §2; Acts 1978, No. 311, §1; Acts 1989, No. 268, §1, eff. June 27, 1989; Acts 1997, No. 265, §1; Acts 2001, No. 49, §1.