§403.3. Identification stickers and decals; deaf and hard of hearing; autism spectrum disorder; mental, physical, or developmental disability

            A.(1)(a) The office of motor vehicles of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections is hereby authorized to issue an identification sticker or decal, which shall be the international symbol of deafness, at no cost for use by deaf and hard of hearing persons who are granted a driver's license. A deaf or hard of hearing person applying for a driver's license or registration who wants an identification decal or sticker shall attach to the application proof as provided in Subsection C of this Section.

            (b) The sticker or decal shall be offered at the time the driver's license or a registration in compliance with R.S. 47:505 is issued and shall be prepared so that it may, at the option of the user, be applied to the windshield and viewed from the outside of the vehicle or on the license plate, or both, in a space that does not interfere with the visibility of the operator of the motor vehicle.

            (2) In addition to the identification sticker or decal provided for in this Subsection, the office of motor vehicles of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections shall create a flag code to be placed on the registration of a motor vehicle which shall indicate that the driver of the vehicle is deaf or hard of hearing. Upon the initial application for or renewal of the registration of a motor vehicle, the flag shall be placed on the registration at the driver's request at no additional cost, provided the driver produces proof as provided in Subsection C of this Section.

            B.(1)(a) The office of motor vehicles of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections is hereby authorized to issue an identification sticker or decal which shall be the awareness symbol for autism spectrum disorder at no cost for use by persons with autism spectrum disorder who have obtained the autism spectrum disorder designation in accordance with R.S. 32:412(P) or a parent, legal guardian, or other caregiver of such a person. A person with autism spectrum disorder applying for a driver's license or registration who wants an autism spectrum disorder sticker or decal shall attach to the application proof as provided in Subsection C of this Section.

            (i) A parent, legal guardian, or other caregiver of a person with autism spectrum disorder applying for a driver's license or registration who wants an autism spectrum disorder sticker or decal shall attach to the application proof of the diagnosis of the person in his care as provided in Subsection C of this Section and sufficient documentation of the relationship to the person.

            (ii) The sticker or decal shall be offered at the time the driver's license or a registration is issued and shall be prepared so that it may, at the option of the user, be applied to the rear window of the vehicle and viewed from the outside of the vehicle in a space that does not interfere with the visibility of the operator of the motor vehicle.

            (b) In addition to the identification sticker or decal provided for in this Paragraph, the office of motor vehicles of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections shall create a flag code to be placed on the registration of a motor vehicle which shall indicate that the driver of the vehicle has an autism spectrum disorder or is the parent, legal guardian, or caregiver of a person with an autism spectrum disorder. Upon the initial application for or renewal of the registration of a motor vehicle, the flag shall be placed on the registration at the driver's request at no additional cost, provided the driver produces proof as required by this Paragraph.

            (2)(a) The office of motor vehicles of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections is hereby authorized to issue an identification sticker or decal, which shall be "an orange square", at no cost for use by persons with a mental, physical, or developmental disability or a parent, legal guardian, or other caregiver of a person with a mental, physical, or developmental disability. A person with a mental, physical, or developmental disability applying for a driver's license or registration who wants a sticker or decal shall attach to the application proof of the disability pursuant to Subsection C of this Section. The sticker or decal shall be offered at the time of application of the driver's license or a registration is issued and shall be prepared so that it may, at the option of the user, be applied to the rear window of the vehicle in a space that does not interfere with the visibility of the operator of the motor vehicle.

            (b) In addition to the identification sticker or decal provided for in this Paragraph, the office of motor vehicles of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections shall create a flag code to be placed on the registration of a motor vehicle which shall indicate that the driver of the vehicle has a mental, physical, or developmental disability or is the parent, legal guardian, or caregiver of a person with a mental, physical, or developmental disability. Upon the initial application for or renewal of the registration of a motor vehicle, the flag shall be placed on the registration at the driver's request at no additional cost, provided the driver produces proof as required by this Paragraph.

            C.(1) In order to receive the appropriate sticker or decal or to have a flag or code placed on the registration record, the applicant shall attach to his application a statement which contains proof indicating the applicant's disability attested by one of the following: a physician, audiologist, speech pathologist, mental health professional, or occupational therapist.

            (2) The office of motor vehicles shall deny the application if the person fails to provide the requisite documentation at the time of application.

            D. All documentation submitted pursuant to this Section by an applicant shall be confidential and not subject to disclosure pursuant to the Public Records Law, R.S. 44:1 et seq. Any person seeking the documentation submitted pursuant to this Section shall obtain a court order after a contradictory hearing against the applicant.

            E. The secretary shall adopt rules and regulations in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act as are necessary to implement the provisions of this Section.

            Added by Acts 1980, No. 154, §1. Acts 1993, No. 231, §1; Acts 2014, No. 514, §1; Acts 2023, No. 172, §1.