§65. Drag racing and racing on public roads and certain property; exemptions

            A. No person shall drive any vehicle in any race, speed competition or contest, drag race or acceleration contest, test of physical endurance, exhibition of speed or acceleration, or for the purpose of making a speed record upon the public roads in this state or upon any publicly-owned or privately-owned property to which the public's access is not prohibited, and no person shall in any manner participate in any such race, speed competition, drag race, test of physical endurance, exhibition, or attempt to make a speed record.

            B. For the purposes of this Section, "drag race" means the operation of two or more vehicles from a point side by side at accelerating speeds in a competitive attempt to outdistance each other, or the operation of one or more vehicles over a common selected course, from the same point to the same point, for the purpose of comparing the relative speeds or power of acceleration of such vehicle or vehicles within a certain distance or time limit.

            C. For the purposes of this Section, "race" means the use of one or more vehicles in an attempt to outgain, outdistance, or prevent another vehicle from passing, or to test the physical stamina or endurance of drivers.

            D. Any person convicted of violating the provisions of this Section shall be punished as follows:

            (1) If there is no serious personal injury involved, the person shall be subject to the penalties as provided in R.S. 32:57.

            (2)(a) If, during the course of commission of the violation, a serious bodily injury or death occurs which is in any way connected to the violation, the penalty shall be a fine of not less than five hundred or more than two thousand dollars or imprisonment, with or without hard labor for not less than one year or more than five years, or both.

            (b) For the purposes of this Paragraph, "serious bodily injury" means bodily injury which involves unconsciousness; protracted and obvious disfigurement; protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member, organ, or mental faculty; or a substantial risk of death.

            E. The prohibitions contained in this Section shall not apply to events sanctioned by local governing authorities.

            F. Any law enforcement agency authorized to enforce traffic regulations in this state shall have the authority to impound, at the owner's expense, any vehicle driven in a manner that violates this Section for up to fourteen days to gather evidence pertaining to the offense. If the owner of the vehicle has not violated this Section, that owner may claim the vehicle from the impound facility once notified by law enforcement. In addition, if the vehicle driven in a manner that violates this Section has been rented from a car rental agency, only the driver of the vehicle shall be subject to higher fines and the total cost of impound fees. The car rental agency, or person who owns the vehicle, may claim the vehicle from the impound facility once notified by law enforcement.

            Added by Acts 1972, No. 247, §1. Acts 1987, No. 419, §1; Acts 2007, No. 128, §1; Acts 2024, No. 318, §1.