HLS 16RS-3043 ENGROSSED
2016 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 184
BY REPRESENTATIVE LANCE HARRIS
MOTOR VEHICLES: Urges and requests the Louisiana Highway Commission to analyze
compliance with certain requirements for operation of a motor vehicle and certain
traffic laws
1 A RESOLUTION
2To urge and request the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission to analyze compliance with
3 certain requirements for operation of a motor vehicle and traffic laws since penalties
4 have been increased and to report the findings to the House Committee on
5 Transportation, Highways and Public Works and to the member of the House of
6 Representatives representing House District Number 25 on or before January 1,
7 2017.
8 WHEREAS, the purpose of traffic regulations is to promote the safe use of the roads,
9streets, and highways of the state; and
10 WHEREAS, the intent for assigning penalties for traffic infractions has been to
11discourage violations by linking monetary consequences to undesirable driver behavior; and
12 WHEREAS, the imposed penalties serve as a deterrent, protect residents of and
13visitors to the state, and potentially dissuade an offender's repeat behavior; and
14 WHEREAS, in 2015, one thousand seventy-four vehicles were involved in traffic
15related fatal accidents, which resulted in six hundred eighty-one fatalities in Louisiana; and
16 WHEREAS, of the two million nine hundred seventy-two thousand seven hundred
17twenty-four licensed drivers in the state of Louisiana, approximately four hundred eighty
18thousand do not meet the compulsory motor vehicle liability security requirements provided
19by law; and
Page 1 of 4 HLS 16RS-3043 ENGROSSED
HR NO. 184
1 WHEREAS, the legislature has increased fines, in some instances doubling or
2tripling the current financial penalties, and implemented court approved community service
3requirements for violation of certain traffic offenses; and
4 WHEREAS, the legislature has increased penalties and reinstatement fees related to
5compulsory motor vehicle security, which include but are not limited to operating a motor
6vehicle without the required motor vehicle liability security, and for failing to provide
7required proof of compliance as established in Act No. 641, and operating a bus without
8insurance as established in Act No. 559 of the 2014 Regular Legislative Session; and
9 WHEREAS, the legislature has increased penalties for violations of traffic laws,
10which include but are not limited to driving while intoxicated offenses as established in Act
11No. 385, careless operation of a motor vehicle as established in Act No. 650, and use of
12certain cellular devices while traveling through school zones as established in Act No. 410
13of the 2014 Regular Legislative Session; school bus drivers operating a vehicle while
14intoxicated as established in Act No. 137 of the 2013 Regular Legislative Session;
15overtaking and passing school buses as established in Act No. 259, safety belt violations in
16Orleans Parish as established in Act No. 413, driving while intoxicated offenses as
17established in Act No. 571, and operating a vehicle while intoxicated as established in Act
18No. 470 of the 2012 Regular Legislative Session; and
19 WHEREAS, the purpose of the increased penalties has been touted as a strategy to
20eliminate traffic-related infractions and to ultimately reduce traffic-related deaths.
21 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
22Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the Louisiana Highway Safety
23Commission to analyze compliance with certain requirements for operation of a motor
24vehicle and traffic laws for which penalties have been increased to determine if such increase
25has resulted in enhanced driver compliance.
26 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study conducted by the Louisiana Highway
27Safety Commission shall include consideration of the relationship between the amount of
28the fine or severity of the penalty imposed and the number of traffic offenses that occur, in
29particular driving while intoxicated offenses, operating a vehicle while intoxicated, safety
Page 2 of 4 HLS 16RS-3043 ENGROSSED
HR NO. 184
1belt violations, use of cellular devices in school zones, careless operation of a vehicle, and
2failure to obtain and/or maintain compulsory motor vehicle security.
3 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study conducted by the Louisiana Highway
4Safety Commission shall include a determination of the following:
5 (1) Whether increased penalties for traffic-related infractions have led to fewer
6traffic citations, fewer motor vehicle accidents, and fewer traffic-related fatalities?
7 (2) Whether increased penalties for traffic-related infractions led to a change in
8driver behavior since the increased penalties have been in effect?
9 (3) Whether the increase in compulsory insurance reinstatement fees has yielded an
10increase in compliance with compulsory motor vehicle liability security?
11 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Louisiana Transportation Research Center
12and the Department of Insurance shall provide any assistance required by the Louisiana
13Highway Safety Commission to complete the study requested herein.
14 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission
15shall prepare and provide a written report to the House Committee on Transportation,
16Highways and Public Works and to the member of the House of Representatives
17representing House District Number 25 on or before January 1, 2017.
18 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be forwarded to the
19chairman of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HR 184 Engrossed 2016 Regular Session Lance Harris
Urges and requests the La. Hwy. Safety Commission to analyze compliance with
compulsory motor vehicle security and traffic laws to determine whether such increase in
penalties has increased compliance.
Requires the study include whether increased penalties for violations of traffic laws and
compulsory motor vehicle security requirements have yielded an increase in compliance by
La. drivers, and resulted in fewer traffic accidents and fatalities.
Requires the La. Transportation Research Center and the Dept. of Insurance provide any
assistance required by the La. Hwy. Safety Commission to complete the study requested.
Page 3 of 4 HLS 16RS-3043 ENGROSSED
HR NO. 184
Requires the La. Hwy. Safety Commission to submit a written report of its findings to the
Senate and House committees on transportation, highways and public works and to the
member of the House of Representatives representing House District No. 25 on or before
Jan. 1, 2017.
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Transportation,
Highways and Public Works to the original bill:
1. Make technical changes.
2. Require the study be conducted by the La. Hwy. Safety Commission instead of
the Dept. of Public Safety, public safety services.
3. Change the resolution from an authorize and direct to an urge and request.
4. Require the La. Hwy. Safety Commission and the Dept. of Insurance provide any
assistance required by the La. Hwy. Safety Commission to complete the study
requested.
Page 4 of 4