§300.1.  Low-speed vehicles; safety equipment requirements; exemptions; registration; safety inspections

A.  A low-speed vehicle may be operated on any divided highway, highway, roadway, or street where the posted speed limit is thirty-five miles per hour or less and may cross any divided highway, highway, roadway, or street with a posted speed limit in excess of thirty-five miles per hour at an intersection or may traverse any divided highway, highway, roadway, or street with a posted speed limit of not more than forty-five miles per hour for a distance not exceeding one quarter mile as a means of conveyance in connecting from one divided highway, highway, roadway, or street where the posted speed limit is no more than thirty-five miles per hour to another divided highway, highway, roadway, or street where the posted speed limit is no more than thirty-five miles per hour.

B.  A low-speed vehicle operated upon any divided highway, highway, roadway, or street shall be equipped with the minimum motor vehicle equipment appropriate for motor vehicle safety as provided in 49 C.F.R. 571.500.  This equipment shall include headlamps, front and rear turn signal lamps, taillamps, stop lamps, reflex reflectors, including one on each side as far to the rear as practicable, and one red reflector on the rear of the vehicle, an exterior mirror mounted on the driver's side of the vehicle and either an exterior mirror mounted on the passenger's side of the vehicle or an interior mirror, a parking brake, a windshield that conforms to the American National Standard Institute's "Safety Code for Safety Glazing Materials for Glazing Motor Vehicles Operating on Land Highways", a windshield wiper, speedometer, odometer, braking for each wheel, a seat belt assembly installed at each designated seating position, and a vehicle identification number.

C.(1)  Any low-speed vehicle operated upon any divided highway, highway, roadway, or street shall be registered with the state of Louisiana, office of motor vehicles, in the same manner as motor vehicles intended for personal use; such low-speed vehicles shall be issued a license plate and shall be required to pay an annual registration license fee to be collected by the office of motor vehicles every two years in accordance with the procedures and schedule of fees provided for in R.S. 47:463.

(2)  Any low-speed vehicle operated on any divided highway, highway, roadway, or street shall be required to comply with the provisions of R.S. 32:861 and 862 relative to required compulsory motor vehicle liability security.

D.  No low-speed vehicle shall be operated by an unlicensed driver.

E.  All low-speed vehicles shall be required to comply with the provisions of R.S. 32:1301 et seq.; however, low-speed vehicles shall not be subject to emissions requirements.

F.(1)  Nothing contained in this Section shall be construed to prohibit the Department of Transportation and Development from prohibiting the operation of any low-speed vehicle on any state highway under its jurisdiction if the department determines that such prohibition is necessary for the safety of the motoring public.

(2)  Nothing contained in this Section shall be construed to prohibit parish or municipal governments from prohibiting the operation of any low-speed vehicle on any parish or municipal road or highway under its jurisdiction if such parish or municipal government determines that such prohibition is necessary for the safety of the motoring public.

Acts 2003, No. 986, §1; Acts 2008, No. 746, §1.