CHAPTER 2-A. DENIAL OF DRIVING PRIVILEGES

§430. Suspension, revocation, and denial of driving privileges; hardship license; insurance rates

            A.(1) Whenever any person who has not yet attained the age of nineteen, but who is not younger than thirteen years of age, is convicted of any crime, offense, violation, or infraction involving the possession, use, or abuse of alcohol or one or more controlled dangerous substances, is convicted of any provision of R.S. 40:966 through 970 of the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law, is convicted of any provision of the Louisiana Racketeering Act, or is adjudicated delinquent for the commission of such offense, the court in which the person was so convicted or adjudicated delinquent shall prepare and send to the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, within ten days of the conviction or adjudication, an order of denial of driving privileges for not less than ninety days but not more than one year for the person convicted or adjudicated delinquent, or until he has reached the age of eighteen years, whichever is longer. If the person convicted or adjudicated delinquent is older than eighteen years, the order of denial shall be for not less than ninety days nor more than one year.

            (2) Whenever any person who has attained the age of nineteen is convicted of any crime, offense, violation, or infraction involving the possession, use, or abuse of one or more controlled dangerous substances, the court in which the person was convicted shall prepare and send to the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, within ten days of the conviction, an order of denial of driving privileges for not less than ninety days but not more than one year for the person convicted.

            (3) Whenever a person nineteen years of age or older is convicted of any felony offense involving a possession violation of any provision of R.S. 40:966 through 970 of the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law, or a violation of the Louisiana Racketeering Act, the court in which the person is so convicted shall prepare and send to the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, within ten days of the conviction, an order of denial of driving privileges for the person so convicted.

            B. In addition to any other authority to suspend driving privileges, the department shall suspend all driving privileges or the right to apply for driving privileges of any person upon receipt of an order of denial of driving privileges under this Section.

            C. The suspension of driving privileges shall be imposed without hearing. Driving privileges, or the right to apply for driving privileges, of the person shall be suspended as provided in the following Paragraphs:

            (1) Upon receipt of the first order denying driving privileges to a person under Paragraph (A)(1) of this Section, the department shall suspend the driving privileges of that person for not less than ninety days nor more than one year, or until the person whose driving privileges were suspended reaches eighteen years of age, whichever is longer. If he is older than eighteen years, his driving privileges shall be suspended for not less than ninety days nor more than one year.

            (2) Upon receipt of a second or subsequent order denying driving privileges to a person under Paragraph (A)(1) of this Section, the department shall suspend the driving privileges of that person for one year or until the person whose driving privileges were suspended reaches nineteen years of age, whichever is longer.

            (3) Upon receipt of an order denying driving privileges to a person under Paragraph (A)(2) of this Section, the department shall suspend the driving privileges of that person for not less than ninety days nor more than one year.

            D. If the department receives notice from a court that it has withdrawn an order issued under this Section, the department shall immediately reinstate any driving privileges that have been suspended under this Section because of the issuance of the order.

            E. The court, in addition to any other authority granted under this Section, may issue an order which authorizes the department to issue a restricted driver's license after the first thirty days of the suspension period upon a demonstration to the court's satisfaction that a hardship would result from being unable to commute to either school or to work. The restrictions of said license shall be determined by the court.

            F.(1) Notwithstanding any restrictions imposed, in any case in which the applicant for a restricted driver's license has had his driver's license suspended, revoked, or cancelled upon conviction or entry of plea of guilty and sentence thereupon, or the forfeiture of bail if the offense involved constituted operating or being in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating beverages, or if the offense involved possession, in violation of R.S. 40:966 through 970, of any controlled dangerous substance listed in Schedules I, II, III, IV, or V of the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law, or any drug offense as defined in R.S. 32:401, the court may, after the first thirty days of the suspension period, additionally order that the applicant's restricted license include permission to operate a motor vehicle on such streets as would enable him to go to and from meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous and to go to and from approved group therapy or special education courses for or about the disease of alcoholism, alcohol abuse, or drug abuse, in a suitable public or private institution or program approved by the appropriate state authority.

            (2) The receipt of such a restricted license may be conditioned upon:

            (a) A medical evaluation and a recommendation that the convicted person is pathologically addicted to alcohol and/or is a habitual alcoholic or other drug offender.

            (b) On the condition that such convicted individual submit to medical treatment and/or medically approved group therapy or special education courses for or about the disease of alcoholism, alcohol abuse, or drug abuse, in a suitable public or private institution or program approved by the appropriate state authority.

            G. The provisions of Subsection F of this Section shall apply only to persons never previously convicted of any offense listed in Subsection A of this Section. The provisions of Subsection F of this Section shall apply to Class "D" and Class "E" licenses.

            H. A copy of an order issued under Subsections F and G of this Section shall be sent to the department along with a copy of the conviction or adjudication notice. A copy of the order containing the restrictions shall be attached to the license of the person convicted or adjudicated and shall be in the possession of the person whenever he is operating a motor vehicle. A restricted license shall be issued by the department and designated by a large red "R" printed on the face of the license. The term of the restrictions shall be the same as the term of the original suspension, cancellation, or revocation.

            I. A violation of the restrictions or a subsequent conviction or adjudication of delinquency for the offenses stated in this Section during the term of the restricted license shall result in the extension of the period of suspension for one year from the date upon which the licensee would otherwise have been able to apply for a new license and shall also constitute contempt of court. A suspension which results from such a violation, conviction, or adjudication of delinquency shall not be subject to appeal as set forth in this Section. The restricted driving privileges authorized by Subsections F and G of this Section may be allowed to a person only once.

            J. Any person whose license has been suspended by the department shall be notified of such suspension in writing by the department. This notice shall be sent by certified mail to the last address furnished by such person, and the person shall return his or her license to the department within five days of receiving the notice. The notice shall also advise such person that he or she may obtain a special identification card from the driver's license division of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections pursuant to R.S. 40:1321.

            K. Any period of suspension under this Chapter shall begin upon receipt by the department of the operator's license or proof of its loss, upon expiration of the operator's license, or thirty days after the date the notice of suspension is mailed to the licensee by the department, whichever occurs first.

            L. Upon the expiration of the period of the suspension of any license, the department shall return the license to the licensee or in its discretion may issue him a new license, but only after a reinstatement fee of sixty dollars has been paid to the department and the requirements of R.S. 32:896 relative to proof of financial responsibility have been satisfied. Monies derived from this reinstatement fee shall be disbursed as set out in R.S. 32:414(G)(1)(b).

            M. No insurer issuing a policy of automobile insurance covering property damages, personal injury, or accidental death shall increase any rate or premium charges for insurance coverage because of any suspension of a license under the provisions of this Section, unless the crime, offense, violation, or infraction is directly related to the operation of a motor vehicle. The provisions of this Subsection shall not be construed to prohibit the increase of any automobile insurance rate or premium, pursuant to a rate increase which is approved by the commissioner of insurance, for a class of insurance of which the person whose license has been suspended pursuant to this Section is or becomes a member.

            N.(1) When any person's driver's license has been seized, suspended, or revoked, and the seizure, suspension, or revocation is connected to a charge or charges of violation of a criminal law, and the charge or charges do not result in a conviction, plea of guilty, or bond forfeiture, the person charged shall not be required to pay any reinstatement fee if at the time for reinstatement of driver's license, it can be shown that the criminal charges have been dismissed or that there has been a permanent refusal to charge a crime by the appropriate prosecutor or there has been an acquittal. If however, at the time for reinstatement, the licensee has pending against him criminal charges arising from the arrest which led to his suspension or revocation of driver's license, the reinstatement fee shall be collected. Upon subsequent proof of final dismissal or acquittal, other than under Code of Criminal Procedure Article 893 or 894, the licensee shall be entitled to a reimbursement of the reinstatement fee previously paid. In no event shall exemption from this reinstatement fee or reimbursement of a reinstatement fee affect the validity of the underlying suspension or revocation.

            (2) If a licensee qualifies for the exemption from the reinstatement fee or for a reimbursement of the reinstatement fee as provided in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, the licensee shall receive credit for the unexpired portion of the license which was seized, and shall be exempt from the payment of, or shall receive reimbursement for the payment of, the duplicate license fee and the handling fee with regard to the license which was seized.

            Acts 1988, No. 536, §§1, 2, eff. Jan. 1, 1989; Acts 1989, No. 42, §1; Acts 1989, No. 376, §1; Acts 1989, No. 432, §1; Acts 1991, No. 936, §1, eff. July 24, 1991; Acts 1992, No. 277, §1, eff. June 11, 1992; Acts 1992, No. 605, §1, Acts 1992, No. 1096, §1; Acts 1995, No. 520, §2; Acts 2001, No. 878, §1; Acts 2007, No. 459, §4, eff. Jan. 1, 2008.