Terms Used In Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1042

  • Commissioner: means the Department of Public Safety and Corrections. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:851
  • Judgment: means any judgment which shall have become final by expiration without appeal of the time within which a suspensive appeal might have been perfected or by final affirmation on appeal, rendered by a court of competent jurisdiction of any state or of the United States, upon a cause of action arising out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of any motor vehicle, for damages, including damages for care and loss of services, because of bodily injury to or death of any person, or for damages because of injury to or destruction of property including the loss of use thereof, or upon a cause of action on an agreement of settlement for such damages. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:851
  • License: means any license, temporary instruction permit, or temporary license issued under the laws of this state pertaining to the licensing of persons to operate motor vehicles. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:851
  • Nonresident: means every person who is not a resident of this state but does not include persons dwelling outside of this state whose occupation or business requires them to spend one-half or more of their working hours in this state in pursuance of their business or employment. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:851
  • Person: means every natural person, firm, co-partnership, association, or corporation. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:851
  • Registration: includes a registration certificate or certificates and registration plates issued under the laws of this state pertaining to the registration of motor vehicles. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:851

A.  Any person in whose name more than twenty-five motor vehicles are registered or who owns property in Louisiana assessed in his name having a value of one hundred thousand dollars or more after deducting any encumbrances thereon from its assessed valuation may qualify as a self-insurer by obtaining a certificate of self-insurance issued by the assistant secretary of the office of motor vehicles as provided in Subsection B of this Section.

B.(1)  The assistant secretary may, at his discretion, upon the application of such a person, issue a certificate of self-insurance when he is satisfied that such person is possessed and will continue to be possessed of ability to pay judgments obtained against such person.

(2)  The assistant secretary shall assess a fee of one hundred dollars for each certificate.

C.  Upon not less than five days notice and a hearing pursuant to such notice, the commissioner may cancel upon reasonable grounds a certificate of self-insurance.  Failure to pay any judgment within sixty days after such judgment has become final shall constitute a reasonable ground for the cancellation of a certificate of self-insurance.  The commissioner, upon receipt of certified copy of a final judgment, shall forthwith suspend the license and registration, or any nonresident‘s operating privileges, of any person, or any legal entity, against whom such judgment was rendered, except as otherwise provided in La. Rev. Stat. 32:892 and La. Rev. Stat. 32:895.

D.  Any person or any legal entity whose certificate of self-insurance has been cancelled for his failure to pay a final judgment shall not be eligible for the renewal or reissuance of a certificate of self-insurance for a period of five years from the date of cancellation.

Acts 1952, No. 52, §34.  Amended by Acts 1981, No. 653, §1; Acts 1985, No. 589, §1.