ENROLLED
2016 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 184
BY REPRESENTATIVE LANCE HARRIS
A RESOLUTION
To urge and request the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission to analyze compliance with
certain requirements for operation of a motor vehicle and traffic laws since penalties
have been increased and to report the findings to the House Committee on
Transportation, Highways and Public Works and to the member of the House of
Representatives representing House District Number 25 on or before January 1,
2017.
WHEREAS, the purpose of traffic regulations is to promote the safe use of the roads,
streets, and highways of the state; and
WHEREAS, the intent for assigning penalties for traffic infractions has been to
discourage violations by linking monetary consequences to undesirable driver behavior; and
WHEREAS, the imposed penalties serve as a deterrent, protect residents of and
visitors to the state, and potentially dissuade an offender's repeat behavior; and
WHEREAS, in 2015, one thousand seventy-four vehicles were involved in traffic
related fatal accidents, which resulted in six hundred eighty-one fatalities in Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, of the two million nine hundred seventy-two thousand seven hundred
twenty-four licensed drivers in the state of Louisiana, approximately four hundred eighty
thousand do not meet the compulsory motor vehicle liability security requirements provided
by law; and
WHEREAS, the legislature has increased fines, in some instances doubling or
tripling the current financial penalties, and implemented court approved community service
requirements for violation of certain traffic offenses; and
WHEREAS, the legislature has increased penalties and reinstatement fees related to
compulsory motor vehicle security, which include but are not limited to operating a motor
vehicle without the required motor vehicle liability security, and for failing to provide
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required proof of compliance as established in Act No. 641, and operating a bus without
insurance as established in Act No. 559 of the 2014 Regular Legislative Session; and
WHEREAS, the legislature has increased penalties for violations of traffic laws,
which include but are not limited to driving while intoxicated offenses as established in Act
No. 385, careless operation of a motor vehicle as established in Act No. 650, and use of
certain cellular devices while traveling through school zones as established in Act No. 410
of the 2014 Regular Legislative Session; school bus drivers operating a vehicle while
intoxicated as established in Act No. 137 of the 2013 Regular Legislative Session;
overtaking and passing school buses as established in Act No. 259, safety belt violations in
Orleans Parish as established in Act No. 413, driving while intoxicated offenses as
established in Act No. 571, and operating a vehicle while intoxicated as established in Act
No. 470 of the 2012 Regular Legislative Session; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of the increased penalties has been touted as a strategy to
eliminate traffic-related infractions and to ultimately reduce traffic-related deaths.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the Louisiana Highway Safety
Commission to analyze compliance with certain requirements for operation of a motor
vehicle and traffic laws for which penalties have been increased to determine if such increase
has resulted in enhanced driver compliance.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study conducted by the Louisiana Highway
Safety Commission shall include consideration of the relationship between the amount of
the fine or severity of the penalty imposed and the number of traffic offenses that occur, in
particular driving while intoxicated offenses, operating a vehicle while intoxicated, safety
belt violations, use of cellular devices in school zones, careless operation of a vehicle, and
failure to obtain and/or maintain compulsory motor vehicle security.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study conducted by the Louisiana Highway
Safety Commission shall include a determination of the following:
(1) Whether increased penalties for traffic-related infractions have led to fewer
traffic citations, fewer motor vehicle accidents, and fewer traffic-related fatalities?
(2) Whether increased penalties for traffic-related infractions led to a change in
driver behavior since the increased penalties have been in effect?
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(3) Whether the increase in compulsory insurance reinstatement fees has yielded an
increase in compliance with compulsory motor vehicle liability security?
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Louisiana Transportation Research Center
and the Department of Insurance shall provide any assistance required by the Louisiana
Highway Safety Commission to complete the study requested herein.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission
shall prepare and provide a written report to the House Committee on Transportation,
Highways and Public Works and to the member of the House of Representatives
representing House District Number 25 on or before January 1, 2017.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be forwarded to the
chairman of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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