§153.  Instant Tow Dispatch Pilot Program; Expedited Towing Pilot Program

A.  The Legislature of Louisiana hereby expresses its intention to alleviate extended delays associated with motor vehicle accidents on Louisiana's multilane highways.  A coordinated interagency open roads policy will contribute to timely deliveries, safe travel, and improved safe movement of goods and persons along critical multilane highways.

B.  In order to achieve improved traffic incident management practices that will decrease the impact of all types of incidents on Louisiana's multilane highways, the Department of Transportation and Development and the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of state police, shall coordinate with the Louisiana Motor Transport Association, the Towing and Recovery Professionals of Louisiana, and the appropriate municipal and parochial law enforcement associations to develop an Instant Tow Dispatch Pilot Program for passenger vehicles and an Expedited Towing Pilot Program for freight-carrying vehicles, provided for in Subsections C and D of this Section.

C.(1)  The Instant Tow Dispatch Pilot Program shall develop and implement a plan to reduce the time required to arrive and remove disabled or damaged vehicles.  This program shall be developed by the creation of a pilot program in two areas of the state with high density interstate highway traffic.  The Department of Transportation and Development is authorized to make "dry run" payments, in an amount to be determined by such department, for tows that are dispatched to the scene of an incident and are not used, provided that the "dry run" is documented by the appropriate Department of Transportation and Development or Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of state police, dispatch center.  The Department of Transportation and Development and the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of state police, along with the other associations provided for in Subsection B of this Section shall:

(a)  Determine the numbers of incidents tows are used and the time required to complete restoration of traffic.

(b)  Document the results of the pilot program.

(c)  Submit a written report to the Senate and House committees on transportation, highways, and public works no later than March 1, 2010.  Such report shall document proposals for suggested legislation that will alleviate extended delays associated with motor vehicle accidents on Louisiana's multilane highways.

(2)  The Expedited Towing Pilot Program shall develop and implement a plan identifying procedures that will reduce interstate highway blockage time and provide for a more effective incident response performance that will mitigate resulting traffic congestion, as well as efficiently preserving commercial goods.  This program shall be developed by the creation of a pilot program in two areas of the state with high density interstate highway traffic that are at a greater risk of incidents involving freight-carrying vehicles.  The Department of Transportation and Development and the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, along with the other associations provided for in Subsection B of this Section shall:

(a)  Determine the number of freight-carrying vehicle incident tows that are used and the time required to complete restoration of traffic.

(b)  Document loss of any freight.

(c)  Document the results of the pilot program.

(d)  Submit a written report to the Senate and House committees on transportation, highways, and public works no later than March 1, 2010.  Such report shall document proposals for suggested legislation that will alleviate extended delays associated with freight-carrying vehicle incidents on Louisiana's multilane highways.

D.  Prior to implementation of the Instant Tow Dispatch Pilot Program and the Expedited Towing Pilot Program as required in Subsection C of this Section, the participating entities shall develop procedures which they propose will be followed in each of the programs.  Such procedures shall be approved by the House and Senate transportation, highways, and public works committees prior to implementation of such programs.

Acts 2008, No. 429, §1, eff. June 21, 2008.