§427.  Penalty

A.(1)  Violation of a provision of this Chapter, or of a regulation promulgated thereunder, except as otherwise provided in this Chapter, while operating a Class "D" or Class "E" vehicle or involving a Class "D" or "E" license or application for a Class "D" or "E" license, shall subject the person to criminal penalties of a fine of not less than ten nor more than five hundred dollars or imprisonment for up to six months, or both, and civil penalties of up to a one thousand two hundred fifty-dollar fine.

(2)  Violation of a provision of this Chapter, or of a regulation promulgated thereunder, while operating a commercial motor vehicle or involving a commercial driver's license shall subject the person to criminal penalties of a fine of not less than ten nor more than five thousand dollars or imprisonment for up to six months, or both and civil penalties of up to a two thousand five hundred dollar fine.

(3)  Any commercial motor vehicle driver who is convicted of a violation of an out-of-service order as provided in this Chapter shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than one thousand one hundred dollars nor more than two thousand seven hundred fifty dollars for each occurrence.  Any employer who is convicted of violation of an out-of-service order shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than two thousand five hundred dollars nor more than ten thousand dollars for each occurrence.

(4)  Any employer convicted of knowingly requiring, permitting, or authorizing a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle in violation of any federal, state, or local law or regulation regarding  railroad grade crossings shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than ten thousand dollars for each occurrence.

(5)  Any employer convicted of knowingly requiring, permitting, or authorizing a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle in the United States during any period in which the driver has a suspended, revoked, or canceled commercial driver's license, has lost the right to operate a commercial motor vehicle, has been disqualified from operating a commercial motor vehicle, has more than one commercial driver's license, or during a period in which the driver, the commercial motor vehicle, or the motor carrier operation is subject to an out-of-service order shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than two thousand seven hundred fifty dollars nor more than eleven thousand dollars for each occurrence.

B.(1)  For purposes of this Chapter and particularly R.S. 32:414.2, "conviction" means an unvacated adjudication of guilt or a determination that a person has violated or failed to comply with the law in a court of original jurisdiction or by an authorized administrative tribunal, an unvacated forfeiture of bail or collateral deposited to secure the person's appearance in court, a plea of guilty or nolo contendere accepted by the court, the payment of a fine or court costs, or a violation of a condition of release without bail, regardless of whether or not the penalty is rebated, suspended, or probated.  A conviction will occur even if a person is referred to a remedial program as a substitute for the imposition of a penalty, fine, or other sanction.

(2)  The assistant secretary of the office of motor vehicles shall notify any person found to be in violation of a civil penalty imposed by this Chapter of the penalty or disqualification to drive levied after due process either by mail or in person.  Upon passage of thirty days without receipt of fine, the assistant secretary of the office of motor vehicles may order the removal of the offending vehicle's license tag if the registration is from Louisiana.  For vehicles not registered within the state, any vehicle owned by the person or company may be seized.  For offenses by the driver or operator, the driver's or operator's license shall be suspended.  Upon receipt of the fine, the license tags, vehicle, or driver's license shall be returned.

(3)  The amount of any civil penalty or duration of a disqualification to drive, or suspension, revocation, or cancellation imposed under this Chapter shall be determined by taking into account the nature, circumstances, extent, and gravity of the violation committed and, with respect to the violator, the degree of culpability, history of prior offenses, ability to pay, effect on the ability to continue to do business, and any other matters as justice and public safety may require.  In each case, the assessment shall be calculated to induce further compliance.

Amended by Acts 1954, No. 165, §10; Acts 1989, No. 293, §1, eff. June 27, 1989; Acts 1993, No. 382, §1; Acts 1995, No. 693, §1; Acts 2002, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 131, §1; Acts 2003, No. 411, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2004; Acts 2006, No. 650, §2; Acts 2008, No. 88, §1.