§417.  Allowing unlicensed person under the age of seventeen to drive

A.  It shall be unlawful for any person to cause or knowingly permit a minor child under the age of seventeen to drive a motor vehicle or a power cycle upon any public road or highway in this state unless such child shall have first obtained a license to drive a motor vehicle or a power cycle.  However, the provisions of this Subsection shall not apply to a minor who is participating in a driver education course or a prelicensing training course approved and certified by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, public safety services.

B.  It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to rent for hire a motor vehicle to be operated by any person who does not have a current license or, in the case of a non-resident who has not been licensed to drive a motor vehicle under the laws of his resident state, if the laws of his resident state so require.

C.  It shall be unlawful for any person or entity to employ any person as a driver of a motor vehicle if said person being employed does not have a current, valid license issued by the department in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter.

D.  Any person who causes or who knowingly permits an unlicensed minor under the age of seventeen to drive a motor vehicle or power cycle on a public road or highway and the owner of a vehicle who knowingly gives or furnishes a motor vehicle or power cycle to an unlicensed minor under the age of seventeen shall be jointly and severally liable for damages caused by the negligence or wilfull misconduct of the minor driving the vehicle.

E.  The following penalties shall be imposed for a violation of this Section:

(1)  The person shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars and not more than five hundred dollars for each offense, or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both.

(2)  However, if an unlicensed minor under the age of seventeen is involved in a collision which results in the serious bodily injury or death of another person, the person shall be subject to the penalties provided for in R.S. 14:92.2(B)(3).  For purposes of this Paragraph, "serious bodily injury" means a bodily injury which involves unconsciousness, protracted and obvious disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member, organ, or mental faculty, or a substantial risk of death.

Amended by Acts 1954, No. 165, §6A; Acts 1992, No. 382, §1, eff. July 1, 1993; Acts 1997, No. 725, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 2006, No. 650, §2; Acts 2007, No. 127, §1, eff. June 25, 2007; Acts 2011, No. 294, §2.