The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument, were prepared by Sharon F. Lyles.
DIGEST
SB 84 Engrossed 2019 Regular Session Erdey
Proposed law authorizes the secretary of DOTD or his designee to designate a high occupancy
vehicle (HOV) lane on any highway in the state highway system and to restrict the use thereof to
vehicular traffic classified as a "high occupancy vehicle (HOV)" to the extent he thinks it expedient
that, in his judgment, is appropriate to provide travel time savings and to increase the total number
of people moved through a highway corridor with high levels of travel demand and traffic
congestion.
Proposed law defines a "high occupancy vehicle" to mean a passenger car, pickup truck, van,
recreational vehicle, or a bus or other motorized passenger vehicle used for transporting persons such
as a carpool or a vanpool vehicle used for ridesharing purposes and occupied by a driver and one or
more passengers and to exclude a truck, tandem truck, tractor, truck-tractor, combination of vehicles,
or commercial motor vehicle carrying or transporting freight, merchandise, or other property from
its meaning; and defines a "high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane" to mean one or more lanes of a
highway or an entire highway where designated by traffic control devices high occupancy vehicles
are given at all times, or at regularly scheduled times, a priority or preference over some or all other
vehicles moving in the general stream of all highway traffic.
Proposed law requires DOTD to promulgate rules and regulations related to enforcement and
penalties of the HOV lanes. Proposed law provides further that notwithstanding any other law to the
contrary, the rules and regulations shall be in accordance with the selected implementation method
of HOV lanes.
Effective August 1, 2019.
(Adds R.S. 48:345)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Transportation, Highways, and
Public Works to the original bill
1. Changes authority to designate HOV lanes from the assistant secretary of the office
of operations or the chief engineer to the secretary of DOTD or his designee.
2. Adds to definition of "high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane" that HOV lanes are
designated by traffic control devices.
3. Requires DOTD to promulgate rules and regulations related to enforcement and penalties of HOV lanes and that notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the
rules and regulations shall be in accordance with the selected implementation method
of HOV lanes.