SLS 19RS-378 ENGROSSED
2019 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 163
BY SENATOR CORTEZ
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
TRANSPORTATION/DEV DEPT. Provides relative to special permits for the operation
of vehicles issued by the Department of Transportation and Development. (8/1/19)
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 32:387(A) and (B)(2), relative to special permits; to provide
3 relative to issuance of special permits on the interstate highway system in Louisiana;
4 and to provide for related matters.
5 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 32:387(A) and (B)(2) are hereby amended and reenacted to read as
7 follows:
8 ยง387. Special permits
9 A. No vehicle or combination of vehicles that does not meet the requirements
10 of R.S. 32:380 through 386 shall use the public highways of this state without first
11 obtaining a special permit from the department in addition to any other special
12 permit which may be required from any other agency or department of the state or
13 a political subdivision, and the special permit herein provided for shall be issued at
14 the discretion of the secretary. If a permit issued pursuant to Subsection B of this
15 Section authorizes a vehicle to operate on interstate highways, the secretary may
16 allow require the vehicle to operate on interstate highways at night if requested by
17 the owner or operator.
Page 1 of 2
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 163
SLS 19RS-378 ENGROSSED
1 B.(1) * * *
2 (2) Subject to the provisions of Subsection A of this Section, and
3 Paragraphs (1), (3), and (4) of this Subsection, the secretary may issue special
4 permits to permit movement along the interstate highway system within Louisiana
5 of vehicles and loads up to sixteen feet in width that do not meet the requirements
6 of R.S. 32:380 through 386. The request for a permit may be denied, if the secretary
7 determines that the vehicle or load traveling along the proposed route would
8 endanger the public due to construction, highway conditions, or traffic along the
9 proposed route. Any vehicle traveling under a special permit issued pursuant to the
10 provisions of this Paragraph shall not exceed a speed of fifty-five miles per hour.
11 * * *
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Sharon F. Lyles.
DIGEST
SB 163 Engrossed 2019 Regular Session Cortez
Present law requires a vehicle or combination of vehicles that does not meet the
requirements of R.S. 32:380 through 386 to obtain a special permit from DOTD before using
the public highways of this state in addition to any other special permit which may be
required from any other agency or department of the state or a political subdivision. Special
permits are issued at the discretion of the secretary. The secretary may allow vehicles and
loads up to 16 feet in width with a special permit to operate on interstate highways at night
if requested by the owner or operator.
Proposed law changes present law to authorize the secretary to require use of interstate
highways at night.
Present law authorizes the secretary to issue special permits to permit movement along the
interstate highway system within Louisiana of vehicles and loads up to 16 feet in width.
Proposed law changes present law to remove the 16-foot width limitation on the interstate
highway system.
Effective August 1, 2019.
(Amends R.S. 32:387(A) and (B)(2))
Page 2 of 2
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.