La. Admin. Code tit. 73 § I-901

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 6, June 20, 2024

Section I-901 - Vehicle Registration and Licensing

A. General Information

1. Commercial vehicle owners who need license plates which are full-plated for Louisiana and noncommercial vehicle owners may obtain license plates at any district office of the Vehicle Registration Bureau (of the Office of Motor Vehicles, Department of Public Safety). If additional detailed information is needed, it may be obtained from the Title Support and Information Section, Vehicle Registration Bureau, Department of Public Safety, Box 64886, Baton Rouge, LA 70896; (225) 925-6278.

2. Commercial vehicle owners who need license plates which are apportioned for other states may obtain applications for apportioned plates at any district office of the Vehicle Registration Bureau of the Office of Motor Vehicles, Department of Public Safety. Applications must be mailed to Baton Rouge, and additional information can be obtained from the Prorate Section, Vehicle Registration Bureau, Department of Public Safety, Box 64886, Baton Rouge, LA 70896; (225) 925-6270.

3. Common and contract carriers must purchase CCT plates; however, they must first be licensed with the Louisiana Public Service Commission.

4. The following vehicles are exempt from vehicle registration and licensing:

a. farm tractors, self-propelled farm equipment, and two-and four-wheeled, rubber-tired farm wagons or trailers of up to 2-ton capacity if the vehicles are used only in farming;

b. trackless trolley coaches, buses or passenger coaches or passenger carrying trailers or semi-trailers which are operated only within the corporate limits of a municipality, of two adjoining municipalities or up to 1/2 mile from the corporate limits;

c. oversize or overweight self-propelled motor cranes used only for heavy construction by the building and utility industries;

d. oversize or overweight self-propelled oil well or gas well pulling units used only for servicing oil or gas wells on off-road property;

e. road rollers and road machinery only temporarily moved on highways;

f. log loaders used only for loading logs.

5. A vehicle must have Louisiana plates or Louisiana apportioned plates if the residence or employment or the owner or lessee is in Louisiana.

6. Nonresidents regularly employed or regularly operating a business in Louisiana for 30 days or more must obtain Louisiana plates or plates apportioned for Louisiana on all vehicles used or based in Louisiana unless the vehicles are being operated under reciprocal agreements between Louisiana and the nonresident's home state.

7. All commercial trucks and all trucks licensed for more than 3,500 pounds must have the owner's name and address on the outside of both truck doors.

8. Louisiana license plates must be attached to the front of a vehicle. The plate may not swing and must be clearly readable, and the bottom of the plate must be at least 12 inches from the ground.

9. The registration certificate issued to a vehicle must at all times be carried in the vehicle and be subject to inspection by a state police officer, weights and standards police officer, or Department of Public Safety motor vehicle enforcement officer.

10. Mobile Homes

a. A mobile home being moved from a point of origin in Louisiana or any other point, whether in Louisiana or out-of-state, must have a valid Louisiana registration certificate.

b. Mobile homes traveling to or through Louisiana are exempt from Louisiana registration if they are properly registered in their home state.

c. Mobile homes being delivered by manufacturers to dealers are not required to be licensed, but an "in transit " sign must be displayed on the mobile homes.

11. Escort Vehicles

a. Escort vehicles must be registered in accordance with Louisiana Revised Statutes or reciprocal agreements.

b. Louisiana domiciled automobiles used as escort vehicles must carry a $10 commercial plate.

c. Registrations for escort vehicles which are properly registered in other states will be accepted by Louisiana through reciprocal agreement.

d. Companies domiciled outside Louisiana must pay $10 annual fee for escort permit and decal.

B. Louisiana Plates

1. Louisiana issues six classes of license plates for trucks, tandem trucks, truck-tractors, semi-trailers, and trailers.

a. Class 1. Those carrying or transporting freight, merchandise, or other property exclusively for their owners or used to transport actual employees of the owner of such vehicle, except those included in Class 5 in §901. B.1 e, shall be Class 1.

b. Class 2. Those carrying or transporting passengers, freight, merchandise, or other property as common or contract carriers, including trackless street or trolley cars and excepting only those vehicles owned or operated by any person engaged in the business of operating upon rails or upon stationary tracks and operated thereon, except those included in Class 5 in §901. B.1 e, shall be in Class 2.

c. Class 3. Those carrying and transporting products of the forest in their natural state, including, but not limited to logs, debarked logs, untreated ties, stave bolts, plywood bolts, pulpwood billets, wood chips, stumps, sawdust, moss, bark and wood shavings, and property used in the production thereof, including bulldozers which do not exceed 8 feet in width, and used to transport actual employees of the owner of such vehicle to and from the place of employment, and those carrying and transporting sugarcane which are not in Class 6, shall be Class 3.

d. Class 4. Those used exclusively in carrying and transporting gravel shall be Class 4.

e. Class 5

i. Those operated exclusively within the corporate limits of the incorporated city, town, or village in which said vehicle was domiciled at the time of its registration, and where said city, town, or village has a population of less than 500,000 within territory contiguous to the domicile thereof and not exceeding 13 miles distance from the corporate limits thereof, and where said city, town, or village has population in excess of 500,000 within territory contiguous to the domicile thereof and not exceeding 13 miles from the corporate limits thereof, those operated exclusively within the limits of an unincorporated urban area having a population in excess of 135,000, as determined by the United States Bureau of the Census, in which said vehicle was domiciled at the time of registration, or within territory contiguous thereto not exceeding 13 miles distance from the limits of such unincorporated area, said limits to be those used by the United State Bureau of the Census in reporting the population thereof; those operated exclusively in transportation between a municipality and its airport, when supplemental to transportation by aircraft, shall be Class 5. At the time vehicles in this class are registered, the domicile of the vehicle so registered shall be shown on the registration certificate.

ii. A motor vehicle bearing a Class 5, city use license shall be entitled to operate within the confines of any city, town, village and territory contiguous thereto as followed herein for Class 5 licenses, and in any unincorporated urban area which has limits determined by the United States Bureau of the Census, without transferring its domicile or obtaining a different class of license; provided that city use truck is not authorized to carry any cargo or goods from one city or such unincorporated urban area to another. A motor vehicle bearing a Class 5 city use license is authorized to travel on the highways of this state outside of a city, town, village or such unincorporated urban area provided that it carries absolutely no cargo or goods.

f. Class 6

i. Those owned by persons engaged in the business of actual farming and by them used primarily but not exclusively in carrying farm produce raised on their farms from such farms to market, or returning therefrom carrying goods and merchandise back to their farms, this individually or cooperatively, but not for hire, shall be Class 6.

ii. Farm produce shall include, but not be limited to, fruits vegetables, livestock, fish, and shellfish.

iii. Those owned by persons engaged exclusively in the business of hauling milk and milk products for dairy cooperatives or any other milk plant also shall be Class 6.

C. Apportioned Plates

1. If a vehicle has plates apportioned for Louisiana, that vehicle will be allowed to operate both interstate and intrastate in Louisiana. If a Louisiana vehicle has Louisiana apportioned plates, that vehicle may travel to other states which are members of the international registration plan or which have bilateral proportional registration reciprocity agreements with Louisiana and operate both interstate and intrastate in those states for which the vehicle is apportioned.

2. The owner of any motor vehicle having three or more axles or any vehicle which alone or in combination weighs more than 26,000 pounds when loaded may purchase apportioned plates if the owner's home state is a member of the international registration plan or has a bilateral proportional registration reciprocity agreement with Louisiana. Two-axle motor vehicles or vehicles which alone or in combination weigh 26,000 pounds or less when loaded may be proportionally registered at the option of the owner.

3. Present International Registration Plan (IRP) members: Alabama, Alberta (Can) Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, N. Carolina, N. Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, S. Carolina, S. Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, W. Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

4. The original cab card must accompany the vehicle for which it was issued at all times. If the card is defaced or used in any vehicle except the one described on it, it is considered void.

5. Vehicles with plates apportioned for Louisiana cannot exceed the licensed weight for Louisiana shown on the cab card.

D. Reciprocal Agreements

1. Louisiana has reciprocal agreements with most states that are neither members of the IRP nor have bilateral proportional registration reciprocity agreements with Louisiana. Vehicles from these states may operate interstate, but not intrastate, in Louisiana.

2. These states and provinces are:

a. Delaware;

b. Hawaii;

c. Nova Scotia;

d. Massachusetts;

e. Ontario;

f. Quebec;

g. New Jersey;

h. Rhode Island.

3. These reciprocal agreements will allow haulers to carry the Louisiana weight limits.

4. Alaska, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Northwest Territory, Prince Edward Island, Old Mexico, Saskatchewan, Yukon, must have a 48-hour trip permit.

E. Temporary 48-Hour Trip Permits (Out-of-State Vehicles Only)

1. Out-of-state vehicles, eligible for apportioned registration but not registered as such, will be required to purchase a 48-hour trip permit for a fee of $25 before proceeding through Louisiana. The permit allows for interstate and intrastate movement.

2. Temporary 48-hour trip permits apply to two types of vehicles.

a. A vehicle which is properly registered in a state which belongs to the IRP (or has a bilateral proportional registration reciprocity agreement with Louisiana), but the vehicle is not apportioned for Louisiana. A temporary 48-hour trip permit is required before the vehicle may operate either interstate or intrastate in Louisiana.

b. A vehicle which is properly registered in a state which does not belong to the IRP (or has a bilateral proportional registration reciprocity agreement with Louisiana), but which does have a reciprocal agreement with Louisiana. A temporary 48-hour trip permit is required before the vehicle may operate intrastate in Louisiana.

3. A temporary 48-hour trip permit allows a vehicle to operate in Louisiana for 48 continuous hours.

4. Temporary 48-hour trip permits may be purchased as a courtesy at DOTD port of entry stationary enforcement units of the weights and standards police, from any mobile enforcement unit of the weights and standards police or any stationary enforcement unit other than port of entry provided the vehicle is not in violation, at Headquarters Office in Baton Rouge at 1201 Capitol Access Road, any district office of the Vehicle Registration Bureau or from the Prorate Section in Baton Rouge.

5. They may also be obtained from the wire services:

a. EDS Fleet Services 1-800-233-5588;

b. Transceiver United Inc. 1-800-527-0665;

c. Xerox-Fax 1-800-937-6329;

d. Transcom Inc. 1-800-888-9103;

e. TIC Financial Systems 1-800-347-9019.

6. A temporary 48-hour trip permit must be in the cab of the vehicle for which it was issued from the time the vehicle enters Louisiana unless the vehicle is on a direct route to a port of entry enforcement unit.

7. A temporary 48-hour trip permit will allow haulers to carry the Louisiana weight limits.

F. Interstate and Intrastate Operation

1. If a vehicle or combination of vehicles is from an IRP member state (or a state which has a bilateral proportional registration reciprocity agreement with Louisiana) and the motor vehicle has three or more axles or any of the vehicles alone or the combination weighs more than 26,000 pounds, then the motor vehicle must have Louisiana plates, plates which are apportioned for Louisiana, or a temporary 48-hour trip permit in order to operate either interstate or intrastate in Louisiana.

2. If a vehicle or combination of vehicles is from a non-IRP member state (or a state which does not have a bilateral proportional registration reciprocity agreement with Louisiana), but the state has a reciprocal agreement with Louisiana, then the motor vehicle must have a temporary 48-hour trip permit in order to operate intrastate in Louisiana. The vehicle or vehicle combination may operate interstate in Louisiana without purchasing a temporary 48-hour trip permit.

3. Any state's semi-trailer or trailer license plate is honored by Louisiana if the pulling unit is properly registered and licensed.

4. Farm, forest product, public, or any other restricted plates are honored by Louisiana if the vehicles are properly registered and licensed in their home state and are not hauling for hire.

G. Fuel Tax. Fuel tax is collected by weights and standards police officers and by the Louisiana Department of Revenue and Taxation, Excise Tax Section, Box 201, Baton Rouge, LA 70821; (225) 925-7656.

H. Vehicles Using Gasoline

1. Gasoline tax is $0.20 per gallon.

2. Interstate users domiciled outside Louisiana may pay the fuel tax by either of two methods.

a. If the user opts to purchase enough fuel in Louisiana to cover the miles traveled in Louisiana, then the driver must obtain fuel invoices when purchasing fuel in Louisiana. These invoices must be legitimate service station purchase invoices and must show the gallons of fuel purchased. The invoices must be kept so that they can be shown to enforcement officers. If any additional tax is due, it will be collected by enforcement officers before a vehicle leaves Louisiana.

b. If the user opts to post a surety bond with the Department of Revenue and Taxation, then any additional fuel tax due can be paid on a monthly basis. If fuel has been purchased in Louisiana, drivers must have a fuel invoice in their possession when leaving Louisiana.

I. Vehicles Using Special Fuels

1. Special fuels are all fuels used for motor vehicles except gasoline. Special fuels include distillate fuels, such as diesel and kerosene, and also liquefied petroleum gases, such as butane and propane.

2. Special fuels tax is $0.20 per gallon.

3. All users of taxable special fuels whose vehicles are licensed and domiciled in Louisiana must meet the following requirements.

a. The vehicles must be licensed for special fuels with the Department of Revenue and Taxation.

b. Non-IFTA must have a current special fuels invoice in their possession at all times.

c. Vehicles must have a working odometer, speedometer, or hub meter.

d. Vehicles must have the company's name and address on both cab doors in letters at least 2 inches high or adequate identification. The name and address must be legible at a distance of 25 feet in daylight hours. ICC-regulated carriers are allowed company or trade name only.

4. An interstate user of special fuels may determine an average number of miles per gallon of fuel by dividing the total miles traveled by the number of gallons consumed in the entire operation of all their vehicles. The average number of miles per gallon shall not exceed 5 miles per gallon of fuel unless adequate proof is furnished.

5. If the user has no proof of the average number of miles per gallon, the secretary of the Department of Revenue and Taxation will determine the rate to be applied.

6. All interstate users of taxable special fuels whose vehicles are not domiciled in Louisiana must meet the following requirements.

a. Users must post a surety bond with the Department of Revenue and Taxation. Users may then file quarterly reports paying the special fuels tax based on the miles traveled in Louisiana.

b. Exception. Those interstate users who only occasionally travel through Louisiana may not be required to post a surety bond with the Department of Revenue and Taxation. These users must purchase enough fuel in Louisiana to cover the miles traveled in Louisiana, and the driver must have a currently dated special fuels invoice with appropriate information listed thereon before leaving Louisiana.

c. Vehicles must have a working odometer, speedometer, or hub meter.

d. Vehicles must have the company's name and address on both cab doors in letters at least 2 inches high or adequate identification. The name and address must be readable at a distance of 25 feet. ICC-regulated carriers are allowed company or trade name only.

7. A Louisiana special fuels invoice:

a. must be serially numbered;

b. must be printed or rubber-stamped with the name and address of the seller;

c. must include name and address of the purchaser (user);

d. must indicate date of delivery;

e. must show license plate number of the motor vehicle;

f. must show mileage on the odometer, speedometer, or hub meter;

g. must show number of gallons and kind of special fuel purchased;

h. may type, print or rubber stamp fuels invoice;

i. must indicate price of fuel showing tax paid.

8. January 1, 1994, Louisiana became a member of the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA). IFTA is a base-state agreement designed to simplify the administration of state fuel use tax for interstate motor carriers.

9. Carriers based in Louisiana that operate one or more qualified motor vehicles in at least one other IFTA state must be licensed with the Department of Revenue and Taxation. Exceptions are as follows:

a. option to purchase fuel covering the total miles traveled if travel is seldom in Louisiana; or

b. if engaged in lease operations, one may be exempt from the licensing requirements of IFTA depending on the terms of the lease.

10. A carrier's base state is any state where the carrier meets the following requirements:

a. where the carrier has qualified motor vehicles registered;

b. where operational control and operational records are maintained;

c. where motor vehicles that accrue mileage in their base state and another IFTA member state.

11. In Louisiana, there is a one-time application fee of $35 and a decal fee of $1 each. The agreement requires two decals for each qualified vehicle.

12. If applicable or additional information is needed, please contact the Louisiana Department of Revenue and Taxation, Excise Tax Section at (225) 925-7656.

J. Vehicles Transporting Gasoline in Bulk

1. To properly identify any gasoline being imported or exported on Louisiana highways, the driver must have a currently dated invoice, bill of lading, or manifest showing the following information:

a. the seller's and purchaser's names and addresses;

b. the origin and destination of the gasoline;

c. the authorized routes to be followed when exporting or importing (border crossing only);

d. the quantity of each type of gasoline;

e. who will assume the Louisiana tax liability.

2. Anyone who transports any gasoline from or into Louisiana from or into a state which has a lower tax rate than Louisiana may use only routes authorized by the secretary of the Department of Revenue and Taxation. An authorization card will be issued by the Department of Revenue and Taxation for each vehicle. This card must be kept in the vehicle and is not transferable.

3. Exception. Common or contract carriers licensed by the Interstate Commerce Commission or the Louisiana Public Service Commission.

K. Vehicles Transporting Special Fuels in Bulk

1. Any vehicle transporting bulk special fuels into Louisiana must belong to a supplier who is bonded with the Department of Revenue and Taxation.

2. Exception. Common and contract carriers who are licensed to transport bulk special fuels by the Louisiana Public Service Commission.

3. A vehicle transporting bulk special fuels cannot have the cargo tank connected to the carburetor of the motor vehicle or to the fuel supply tank which feeds the carburetor of the motor vehicle.

L. Litter. No person, firm, or corporation shall intentionally dump, leave, or deposit any glass or metallic objects, trash, refuse, or garbage on any property without permission of the owner of said property, or on any highway or roadside park, or on any lands adjacent thereto. Whoever violates the provisions in respect to private property, highways, or roadside parks, or any lands adjacent thereto, shall be punished in accordance with the Revised Statutes.

M. Controlled Access Highways. Enforcement of controlled access highway violations will be restricted to the interstate system. Some examples of the common violations are as follows:

1. illegal median crossing;

2. illegal parking (except for emergencies);

3. cutting through fences;

4. accessing billboards from within the right-of-way;

5. illegal pedestrian crossing.

La. Admin. Code tit. 73, § I-901

Promulgated by the Department of Transportation and Development, Office of Weights, Measures and Standards, LR 20:318 (March 1994), amended LR 22:120 (February 1996).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 32:2 et seq.