HLS 24RS-392 REENGROSSED
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 542
BY REPRESENTATIVE COX
MTR VEHICLE/VIOLATIONS: Provides for increased penalties for certain traffic-control
signal violations
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 32:232(3)(e), (f), and (g), relative to penalties for certain traffic-control signal
3 violations; to provide for increased penalties for red light indication violations; and
4 to provide for related matters.
5Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 32:232(3)(e), (f), and (g) are hereby enacted to read as follows:
7 ยง232. Traffic-control signals
8 Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic-control signals exhibiting different
9 colored lights, or colored lighted arrows, successively one at a time or in
10 combination, only the colors green, red, and yellow shall be used, except for special
11 pedestrian signals carrying a word legend, and said lights shall indicate and apply to
12 drivers of vehicles and pedestrians as follows:
13 * * *
14 (3) Steady RED indication:
15 * * *
16 (e) Notwithstanding any provision contained in this Section to the contrary,
17 for red indications or signal infractions, if the violation results in the injury of
18 another person, the offender shall be fined not less than two hundred dollars nor
19 more than five hundred dollars and may be subjected to a driver's license suspension
20 for a period of ninety days, or both.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 24RS-392 REENGROSSED
HB NO. 542
1 (f) If the violation results in the serious bodily injury of another person, the
2 offender shall be fined not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand
3 dollars, imprisoned for not more than six months, or both. The offender may also
4 subjected to a driver's license suspension for a period of one hundred eighty days.
5 (g) If the violation results in the death of another person, the offender shall
6 be fined not less than one thousand dollars nor more than five thousand dollars,
7 imprisoned for not more than one year, or both. The offender may also be subjected
8 to a driver's license suspension for a period up to three hundred and sixty-five days.
9 * * *
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 542 Reengrossed 2024 Regular Session Cox
Abstract: Increases penalties for red light traffic-control signal violations.
Proposed law specifies that if a violation results in the injury of another person, the offender
shall be fined not less than $500 and may be subject to a driver's license suspension for a
period up to 90 days, or both.
Proposed law specifies that if the violation results in serious bodily injury of another person,
the offender shall be fined not less than $500 no more than $1,000, imprisoned for not more
than six months, or both. Further provides that the offender may be subjected to a driver's
license suspension for a period of up to 180 days, or both.
Proposed law specifies that if the violation results in the death of another person, the
offender shall be fined not less than $1,000 nor more than $5,000, imprisoned for not more
than one year, or both. Further provides that the offender may be subjected to a driver's
license suspension for a period of up to 365 days, or both.
(Adds R.S. 32:232(3)(e)-(g))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Administration of
Criminal Justice to the engrossed bill:
1. Add a penalty of imprisonment of not more than six months when the violation
results in serious bodily injury of another person.
2. Add a penalty of imprisonment of not more than one year when the violation
results in the death of another person.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.