Louisiana 2011 2011 Regular Session

Louisiana House Bill HB513 Enrolled / Bill

                    ENROLLED
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Regular Session, 2011
HOUSE BILL NO. 513
BY REPRESENTATIVES WILLIAMS, AUSTIN BADON, BOBBY BADON, BARROW,
BILLIOT, HENRY BURNS, BURRELL, DIXON, DOWNS, GALLOT, GISCLAIR,
GUINN, HOWARD, LOPINTO, MONTOUCET, SIMON, PATRICIA SMITH, ST.
GERMAIN, AND WOOTON
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 32:1(4), (4.2), (13)(a), and (65), 212(A), and 232(1)(a) and (b)2
and R.S. 47:463.148(B) and (D)(1), to enact R.S. 32:74(C) and 329.1, and to repeal3
R.S. 32:197(B) and 329, relative to bicycles and traffic; to amend, enact, and repeal4
provisions relative to bicycles and traffic; to amend provisions for the "Share the5
Road" license plate; and to provide for related matters.6
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:7
Section 1. R.S. 32:1(4), (4.2), (13)(a), and (65), 212(A), and 232(1)(a), and (b) are8
hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 32:74(C) and 329.1 are hereby enacted to read as9
follows:10
§1.  Definitions11
When used in this Chapter, the following words and phrases have the12
meanings ascribed to them in this Section, unless the context clearly indicates a13
different meaning:14
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(4) "Bicycle" means every device 	upon which any person may ride,16
propelled exclusively by human power, and having one or more wheels propelled by17
human power upon which any person may ride and designed to travel on two tandem18
wheels.19
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(4.2)  "Bicycle lane" means the part of the roadway adjacent to the travel21
lane, designated by striping, signing, and pavement markers official signs or22 ENROLLEDHB NO. 513
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markings for the preferential or exclusive use by bicycles and usually elective1
electric mobility aid users.2
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(13)  "Cross-walk" "Crosswalk" means: (a)  That part of a roadway at an4
intersection included within the connections of the lateral lines of the sidewalks,5
shoulders, or a combination thereof on opposite sides of the highway measured from6
the curbs or, in absence of curbs, from the edges of the traversable roadway 	or if7
there is neither a sidewalk nor shoulder, a crosswalk is the portion of the roadway at8
an intersection that would be included within the prolongation of the lateral lines of9
the sidewalk, shoulder, or both on the opposite side of the street if there were a10
sidewalk or shoulder.11
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(65)  "Shoulder" means the portion of the highway contiguous with the13
roadway for accommodation of stopped vehicles, for emergency use, pedestrian use,14
mobility aid use or bicyclists when other accommodations are not available, bicycle15
use, and for lateral support of base and surface.16
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§212.  Pedestrians right of way right-of-way in cross-walks crosswalks18
A. When traffic-control signals are not in place or not in operation, the driver19
of a vehicle shall stop and yield the right of way right-of-way, slowing down or20
stopping if need be to so yield, to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a cross-21
walk crosswalk when the pedestrian is upon the half of the roadway upon which the22
vehicle is traveling or when the pedestrian is approaching closely from the opposite23
half of the roadway as to be in danger the roadway upon which the vehicle is24
traveling or the roadway onto which the vehicle is turning.25
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§232.  Traffic-control signals27
Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic-control signals exhibiting different28
colored lights, or colored lighted arrows, successively one at a time or in29
combination, only the colors green, red, and yellow shall be used, except for special30 ENROLLEDHB NO. 513
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pedestrian signals carrying a word legend, and said lights shall indicate and apply to1
drivers of vehicles and pedestrians as follows:2
(1)  GREEN indication:3
(a) Vehicular traffic facing a circular green signal may proceed straight4
through or turn right or left unless a sign at such place prohibits either such turn. But5
vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning right or left, shall stop and yield the6
right-of-way to other vehicles and to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection or7
an adjacent crosswalk at the time such signal is exhibited.8
(b) Vehicular traffic facing a green arrow signal, shown alone or in9
combination with another indication, may cautiously enter the intersection only to10
make the movement indicated by such arrow, or such other movement as is permitted11
by other indications shown at the same time.  Such vehicular traffic shall stop and12
yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to13
other traffic lawfully using the intersection.14
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§74.  When passing on the right is permitted16
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C. This Section does not prohibit the use of a bicycle in a bicycle lane or on18
a shoulder.19
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§329.1.  Bicycles; front lamps; rear lamps; side and rear reflectors21
A. Any bicycle when in use at the times specified in R.S. 32:301 shall be22
equipped with the following:23
(1) A lamp mounted on the front that shall emit a white light visible from a24
distance of at least five hundred feet to the front.  A generator-powered lamp that25
emits light only when the bicycle is moving may be used to meet this requirement.26
(2) A lamp mounted on the rear that shall emit either a flashing or steady red27
light visible from a distance of five hundred feet to the rear.28
(3) A red reflector mounted on the rear and a reflector on each side facing29
outward at a right angle to the bicycle frame that shall be visible from all distances30 ENROLLEDHB NO. 513
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from one hundred feet to six hundred feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful1
lower beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle.2
B. A bicycle or its operator may be equipped with lights or reflectors in3
addition to those required by Subsection A of this Section, except that red lamps and4
red reflectors shall not be used on the front of the bicycle and white lamps and white5
reflectors shall not be used on the rear of the bicycle.6
C. A lamp or lamps worn by the operator of a bicycle shall comply with the7
requirements of Subsection A of this Section, if the lamp or lamps can be seen at the8
distances specified.9
D. No person shall operate any bicycle on a state highway, parish road, or10
city street at a time specified in R.S. 32:301 unless such bicycle is equipped with11
lamps and reflectors to comply with Subsection A of this Section. Whoever violates12
this Section shall be subject to a fine of not more than twenty-five dollars which shall13
include all costs of court.14
E. No retailer, distributor, wholesaler, or manufacturer in this state shall sell15
or offer for sale any bicycle unless such bicycle is equipped with lamps and16
reflectors as required by Subsection A of this Section. 17
F. This Section shall not apply to operators of bicycles or bicycles while the18
operator or bicycle is engaged in sanctioned competition races.19
Section 2. R.S. 47:463.148(B) and (D)(1) are hereby amended and reenacted to read20
as follows:21
§463.148.  Special prestige license plate; "Share the Road"22
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B. The special prestige license plate shall be known as the "Share the Road"24
license plate and shall bear the likeness of a person on a bicycle riding on the road25
and a pedestrian walking centered on the left side of the licence license plate. The26
"Louisiana" name logo shall be at the top of the plate.  The center of the plate shall27
display a number, with the first issued plate displaying the number one and shall28 ENROLLEDHB NO. 513
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continue in consecutive numerical order for each plate. Centered at the bottom of1
the plate below the number shall be the words "Share the Road".2
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D.  The department shall collect the following fees for this license plate:4
(1) An initial A royalty fee of twenty-five dollars, which shall be disbursed5
in accordance with Subsection E of this Section.6
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Section 3.  R.S. 32:197(B) and 329 are hereby repealed in their entirety.8
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED: