HLS 23RS-886 ORIGINAL
2023 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 559
BY REPRESENTATIVE WHITE
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
TRANSPORTATION DEPT: Provides relative to the Department of Transportation and
Development enforcement officers
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 32:2(C)(2), relative to Weights and Standards Stationary Scales
3 Police Force; to provide authority and duties commensurate with sheriffs, constables,
4 and police officers; and to provide for related matters.
5Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 32:2(C)(2) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
7 ยง2. Authority of Department of Transportation and Development
8 * * *
9 C.
10 * * *
11 (2) Members of the Weights and Standards Stationary Scales Police Force
12 are authorized to carry weapons and to make arrests in the enforcement of these laws
13 and regulations, and in that regard, shall have the same authority and powers
14 conferred by law upon other law enforcement officers of this state; however, no
15 member of the Weights and Standards Stationary Scales Police Force shall be
16 authorized to carry a weapon until the member has received P.O.S.T. certification
17 training. Members of the Weights and Standards Stationary Scales Police Force of
18 the Department of Transportation and Development who receive P.O.S.T.
19 certification training, are considered peace officers and shall have the authority to
20 enforce the criminal and traffic laws of the state, apprehend criminals and make
Page 1 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 23RS-886 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 559
1 arrests, and perform other related duties imposed upon them by the legislature. As
2 peace officers, they shall also have, in any part of the state, the same powers with
3 respect to criminal matters and the enforcement of the law relating thereto as
4 sheriffs, constables, and police officers have in their respective jurisdictions. No
5 member of the Weights and Standards Stationary Scale Police Force shall be
6 authorized to carry a weapon until the member has received P.O.S.T. certification
7 training.
8 * * *
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)]
HB 559 Original 2023 Regular Session White
Abstract: Expands the authority and duties of the Weights and Standards Stationary Scales
Police Force to make it commensurate with that of other law enforcement officers
and provides for related matters.
Present law provides authority for Weights and Standards Stationary Scales Police who
receive P.O.S.T. training to carry weapons and make arrests with the same authority and
powers conferred by law upon other law enforcement officers of this state.
Proposed law removes the limited authority granted to Weights and Standards Stationary
Scales Police Force and provides for expanded authority and duties for Weights and
Standards Stationary Scales Police Force including the authority to enforce criminal and
traffic laws, apprehend criminals and make arrests, and the same powers with respect to
criminal matters and the enforcement of the law as sheriffs, constables, and police officers.
(Amends R.S. 32:2(C)(2))
Page 2 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.