Art. 211. Summons by officer instead of arrest and booking

            A.(1) When it is lawful for a peace officer to arrest a person without a warrant for a misdemeanor, or for a felony charge of theft or illegal possession of stolen things when the thing of value is five hundred dollars or more but less than one thousand dollars, he shall issue a written summons instead of making an arrest unless one or more of the following conditions exist:

            (a) The officer has reasonable grounds to believe that the person will not appear upon summons.

            (b) The officer has reasonable grounds to believe that the person will cause injury to himself or another or damage to property or will continue in the same or a similar offense unless immediately arrested and booked.

            (c) There is a necessity to book the person to comply with routine identification procedures.

            (d) The officer has ascertained that the person has two or more prior felony convictions.

            (2) In any case in which a summons has been issued, a warrant of arrest may later be issued in its place.

            B.(1) When a peace officer has reasonable grounds to believe a person has committed the offense of issuing worthless checks as defined by R.S. 14:71, he shall issue a written summons instead of making an arrest unless either of the following conditions exist:

            (a) He has reasonable grounds to believe that the person will not appear upon summons.

            (b) He has reasonable grounds to believe that the person will cause injury to himself or another or damage to property unless immediately arrested.

            (2) In any case in which a summons has been issued, a warrant of arrest may later be issued in its place.

            C.(1) When a peace officer has reasonable grounds to believe a person has committed an offense of driving without a valid driver's license, whether physical or electronic, in his possession, the officer shall make every practical attempt based on identifying information provided by the person to confirm that the person has been issued a valid driver's license. If the officer determines that the person has been issued a valid driver's license which is not under revocation, suspension, or cancellation, but that the physical or electronic license is not in his possession, the officer shall issue a written summons to the offender in accordance with law, commanding him to appear and answer the charge.

            (2) The provisions of this Article shall in no way limit a peace officer from issuing a citation for operating a motor vehicle without possession of a valid driver's license.

            D. When a peace officer has reasonable grounds to believe a person has committed an offense of driving with a driver's license that is under revocation, suspension, or cancellation, the officer may use his discretion to make a custodial arrest or issue a written summons to the offender, in accordance with law, commanding him to appear and answer the charge.

            E. The provisions of this Article shall not apply when the officer has reasonable grounds to believe a person committed the offense of domestic abuse battery, battery of a dating partner, violation of a protective order, stalking, or any other offense involving the use or threatened use of force or a deadly weapon upon the defendant's family members, as defined in R.S. 46:2132, upon the defendant's household member, as defined in R.S. 14:35.3, or upon the defendant's dating partner, as defined in R.S. 46:2151.

            Amended by Acts 1982, No. 180, §1; Acts 1995, No. 769, §1; Acts 2006, No. 143, §2; Acts 2011, No. 403, §1; Acts 2019, No. 154, §1; Acts 2021, No. 240, §1; Acts 2022, No. 621, §1.