Louisiana Driving Record
You must have a Louisiana drivers license if you are a resident of Louisiana and want to drive a motor vehicle on public streets and highways. Always carry your license with you when driving. You are required to show it to any police officer or any officer or agent of the department who may ask to see it.
Exceptions from Owning A Louisiana License
You do not need a Louisiana drivers license if:
- you are a non-resident and possess a valid license issued by another state. You are permitted to drive in this state for a period of 90 days.
- you are a student and possess both a valid drivers license issued by your home state and a current student ID card.
- you are operating a farm tractor, farm implements, or road machinery temporarily on the highway.
- you are a member of the Armed Forces driving a U.S. government vehicle while on official duty.
- you are a resident member of the Armed Forces or resident military dependent possessing a valid drivers license from your home state.
Louisiana Proof of Insurance
Any vehicle used upon the highways of Louisiana must be insured. When you apply for a license plate for any motor vehicle, you must have proof of the required liability insurance or other allowable substitute. If you provide false information about your insurance coverage, your vehicle registration may be suspended. You may also be fined by the court and jailed.
Proof of insurance must be maintained in the vehicle when the vehicle is operational and must be presented any time a law enforcement officer requests that such proof be provided. If you are unable to provide the proof upon request, the vehicles license plate will be seized and the vehicle may be impounded. You will have three (3) calendar days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, to provide the proof at a Motor Vehicle office.
The office location at which you may retrieve your license plate will be identified on the notice of violation issued to you by the law enforcement officer. If you do not provide the office with proof of insurance within the three (3) calendar day period, your license plate will be destroyed and you will be required to pay all necessary fees to have your vehicle re-registered.
Louisiana License Restrictions
The Office of Motor Vehicles and/or the Court is authorized to impose restrictions on licenses. Any restrictions placed on you to operate a motor vehicle will appear on your drivers license. Any violation of a restriction is a violation of the law and may result in the suspension of your driving privileges.
Louisiana Seat Belt Laws
Louisiana has a mandatory safety belt use law which requires the driver and all front seat passengers in cars, vans and pickup trucks to be properly buckled.The smartest thing you can do before starting your car is to buckle your lap and shoulder belts. Your chances of surviving a collision are three to four times greater if you are wearing your seat belt and shoulder strap.
Other Louisiana Laws
- Louisiana law requires that your headlights (not just parking lights) be on between sunset and sunrise. You are required by law to use lower headlight beams, not your bright lights, when approaching within 500 feet of or following within 200 feet of another vehicle.
- All children under the age of 12, when operating a bicycle or is a passenger on a bicycle, must wear an approved helmet with head straps when on a public highway, bicycle path or other public right-of-way.
- 70 mph is the maximum speed limit in Louisiana
- Louisiana law requires that the driver of any motor vehicle must stop within 50 feet but no less than 15 feet from the nearest rail of a railroad crossing when:
- A signal device is flashing and a train is approaching.
- A crossing gate is lowered.
- A train gives a warning signal and is an immediate hazard due to its speed or nearness to thecrossing.
- train is approaching so close as to create an immediate hazard.
- Louisiana law prohibits any driver from stopping a vehicle on railroad tracks
- Louisiana law requires you have your headlights on (low beam) when your windshield wipers are required.
- Louisiana law provides the same penalty for driving under the influence of drugs as it does for alcohol.
- Louisiana law states that when you drive a motor vehicle upon the highways of this state, you are deemed to have given your consent to a test for the purpose of determining the alcoholic content of your blood and the presence of any abused or illegal controlled dangerous substance.
Louisiana Resources
Additional Louisiana Resources
Louisiana County Coverage
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