§387.7.  Special permits; vehicles hauling sugarcane

A.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary and provided that there are no objections raised by the federal government, the secretary shall issue annual special permits to persons who own or operate vehicles which haul sugarcane. Such permits may be issued to either the pulling unit or the trailer contained in the combination which shall have a minimum of eighteen wheels.  These permits shall be issued in accordance with the following provisions:

(1)  The permits shall be issued at the truck permit office of the Department of Transportation and Development.

(2)  The fee for the permits shall be one hundred dollars per permit per year.

(3)  The permit shall authorize the operation of the vehicle combination at a gross  weight not to exceed one hundred thousand pounds.

(4)(a)  The secretary may impose a civil penalty of up to five cents per pound for each violation of the one hundred thousand pound limit.

(b)  Beginning August 1, 2005, a first violation of the one hundred thousand pound limit shall result in the civil penalty imposed in accordance with the provisions of this Section and a warning that a second violation shall result in the penalty and the forfeiture of the permittee's eligibility to apply for and receive an annual special permit for the following year.  A second violation of the one hundred thousand pound limit shall result in the penalty and the forfeiture of the permittee's eligibility to apply for and receive an annual special permit for the following year.  A third violation shall result in the penalty and the permanent revocation of the permittee's eligibility to apply for and receive an annual special permit.

(c)  Any owner or operator who has a civil penalty levied against him for a violation of the permitted weight limit of this Section shall be entitled to appeal the penalty in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 32:389.

(d)  The Department of Transportation and Development, in cooperation with the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of state police, shall promulgate rules and regulations as are necessary, in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, to implement the provisions of this Section, subject to oversight by the House and Senate Transportation, Highways and Public Works Committees.  The office of state police shall be responsible for promulgating rules and regulations regarding enforcement procedures.

(5)  The permit shall be specific to the vehicle that is indicated by the permit applicant upon application.

B.  Beginning August 1, 2012, the secretary shall not issue an annual special permit pursuant to the provisions of this Section to any owner or operator of a vehicle hauling sugarcane who has not added an additional single axle on the sugarcane trailer for a total of six axles for the vehicle and trailer combination.  The provisions of this Subsection shall not prohibit the secretary from issuing an annual special permit to any owner or operator of a vehicle hauling sugarcane pursuant to the provisions of any other Section.

Acts 1995, No. 584, §1; Acts 2003, No. 1219, §1, eff. July 1, 2003; Acts 2004, No. 300, §1, eff. June 18, 2004; Acts 2005, No. 330, §1; Acts 2007, No. 365, §1, eff. July 10, 2007; Acts 2012, No. 462, §1.