RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 321 (SB 44) 2023 Regular Session Pope
Existing law allows for the secretary or his designee, when they believe expedient, to
designate adequate shoulders on any highway in the state highway system as high-occupancy
vehicle (HOV) lanes.
New law provides for the removal of the requirement of the secretary to factor in appropriate
travel time savings and increase in the total number of people moved through a highway
corridor with high levels of travel demand and traffic congestion, when designating a
shoulder as an HOV lane.
Prior law provided for the definition of HOV. New law and removes the term "ridesharing"
from the definition. New law makes technical changes.
Prior law defined HOV lane. New law further defines HOV lane to include adequate
shoulders of lanes designated for use as HOV lanes by the secretary or designee. New law
further makes technical changes. New law adds to the definition of vehicles able to use an
HOV lane to include an authorized emergency vehicle, or any other vehicle operated by the
department or its agents as authorized by the secretary through promulgated rules and
regulations.
Prior law provided the department shall promulgate rules and regulations related to
enforcement and penalties of the HOV lanes. New law adds authorized use to the scope of
rulemaking authority granted to the department.
Effective June 12, 2023.
(Amends R.S. 47:820.5.9(B)(intro para), 820.5.9(B)(1), (D), and (E) and R.S. 48:345)