RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 426 (SB 435) 2022 Regular Session Cortez
Existing law provides relative to the La. Highway Regulatory Act, which includes provisions
relating to speed limits and driving on the right side of the road, overtaking, and passing.
Existing law provides for penalties for a violation of the La. Highway Regulatory Act with
the first offense being a fine of not more than $175 or imprisonment of not more than 30
days, or both, unless otherwise provided by law. A subsequent violation will result in a fine
of not more than $500 or imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or both.
New law retains existing law and provides that if a person operating a motor vehicle violates
the provisions of existing law while on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge, the fine shall be two
times the standard fine imposed.
New law provides that the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge means the Atchafalaya Elevated
Expressway designated by Act 793 of 1989 as the Louisiana Airborne Memorial Bridge.
New law provides legislative intent designating the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge as a highway
safety corridor and directs DOTD to take all steps necessary to implement new law including
but not limited to the implementation of camera safety devices and installation of additional
signage.
New law authorizes DOTD to install camera safety devices on the bridge, provides certain
parameters, and provides for rulemaking.
New law provides for signage on the bridge to include speed limit signs, "Trucks Right Lane
Only" signs, and "Safety Corridor, Fines Doubled for Speeding and Other Violations" signs.
New law provides for the number and placement of the signs.
New law provides that the signs must be in compliance with the Manual of Uniform Traffic
Control Devices.
New law provides that no person shall be subject to a citation issued pursuant to new law if
a citation for the same offense was also issued by a police officer.
New law provides for the creation of the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge Safety Fund and for the
management of money in the fund. Further provides for monies from the fund to be used to
cover expenditures of the department in setting up required signage and cameras.
New law requires that, subject to legislative appropriation, monies in the fund be used first
to fund the department's expenditures necessary to implement new law and at the conclusion
of each fiscal year any unexpended monies in the fund shall be divided equally between the
parishes of Iberville and St. Martin to be remitted to entities or organizations within each
parish in the same proportions as fines collected by the parishes when traffic violations are
issued by a law enforcement officer.
Effective August 1, 2022.
(Adds R.S. 32:57(J) and 268)