§1516. Driver qualifications

           A. The secretary shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations for the qualifications and licensing of each person driving, piloting, or otherwise in charge of any transport vehicle transporting hazardous material, freight or passengers or any material designated as hazardous waste under regulations issued in this state. Oversight review shall be conducted by the Joint Legislative Committee on Transportation, Highways, and Public Works. The regulations shall cover physical ability, a written examination, and an examination of the skill necessary for the operation or supervision of the transport vehicle.

           B. No person having any disorder characterized by a lapse of consciousness or other mental or physical disability affecting the ability to drive or pilot safely shall be granted a license under this Section. The secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health shall provide a medical evaluation and recommendation as to which disorders are characterized by a lapse of consciousness and which types of mental or physical disability will affect the ability of a person to drive or pilot safely. Based upon these recommendations the secretary shall adopt and promulgate a listing of disorders and disabilities which make a person ineligible to receive a license pursuant to this Section.

           C.(1) No person shall operate or take part in operating, or be in physical control of a transport vehicle if he possesses, is under the influence of, or is using, any substance controlled under the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substance Law (R.S. 40:963), nor may that person do so with any substance which renders him incapable of performing his duties.

           (2) No carrier shall knowingly require or permit a person to violate this Section.

           (3) The provisions of this Paragraph do not apply to the possession or use of a substance administered to a person by a physician or under the care of a physician when the physician has advised the person that the substance will not affect his ability to operate a transport vehicle.

           (4) As used in this Section, "possession" does not include possession of a substance which is manifested and transported as part of a shipment.

           D.(1) No person shall:

           (a) Consume an intoxicating beverage, regardless of its alcoholic content, or be under the influence of an intoxicating beverage, within four hours of going on duty or operating, or participating in the operation of or having physical control of, a transport vehicle; or

           (b) Consume an intoxicating beverage regardless of its alcoholic content, or be under the influence of an intoxicating beverage, while on duty, or operating, or participating in the operation of or in physical control of, a transport vehicle; or

           (c) Be on duty or operate a transport vehicle while having in his possession an intoxicating beverage regardless of its alcoholic content. The provisions of this Paragraph do not apply to possession of an intoxicating beverage which is manifested and transported as part of a shipment.

           (d) Be on duty, operate, or participate in the operation of a transport vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

           (2) No carrier shall require or permit a person to:

           (a) Violate any provision of Paragraph (a) of this Subsection; or

           (b) Be on duty or operate a transport vehicle if, by the person's general appearance or conduct or by other substantiating evidence, the person appears to have consumed an intoxicating beverage within the preceding four hours or have alcohol in his system.

           E.(1) With a reasonable suspicion, any officer of the office of state police may require anyone operating or participating in the operation of a transport vehicle to take a chemical test or tests of his blood, breath, or urine to determine the alcohol content and/or content in his system of any Schedule I, II, III, IV, and V drugs, as defined in R.S. 40:964.

           (2) Pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the Deputy Secretary of Public Safety refusal to submit to the chemical test may result in the loss for one year of the individual's privileges to operate a transport vehicle.

           Added by Acts 1979, No. 83, §1. Amended by Acts 1980, No. 603, §1, eff. July 23, 1980; Acts 1984, No. 333, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1985; Acts 1985, No. 113, §1, eff. June 29, 1985; Acts 1985, No. 497, §1, eff. July 12, 1985.