Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:415 – A. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle upon any public highway of this state during the period of suspension, revocation or cancellation of any license whi
Terms Used In Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:415
- Bail: Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.
- Cancellation: means that a driver's license is annulled because of some error or defect or because the licensee is no longer entitled to such license, but the cancellation of a license is without prejudice and application for a new license may be made at any time after such cancellation. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:401
- Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
- conviction: includes the entry of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to an offense; the forfeiture of bail of any person charged with an offense; and the adjudication of a person as a delinquent for the commission of an offense pursuant to juvenile proceedings. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:401
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Motor vehicle: means and includes automobiles, trucks, truck-tractors, trailers, semitrailers, and motorcycles, propelled by steam, gasoline, electricity, or any other source of energy other than muscular power, except electric-assisted bicycles, farm implements temporarily operated or moved on a highway or vehicles operated only on rails or tracks constructed therefor. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:401
- person: includes a body of persons, whether incorporated or not. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 1:10
- Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
- Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
- Revocation: means that the driver's license to drive a motor vehicle on the highways is terminated and shall not be renewed, except that an application for a new license may be presented and acted upon by the department after the expiration of at least one year after revocation. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:401
- Suspension: means that the driver's license to drive a motor vehicle on the highways is temporarily withdrawn during the period of such suspension. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:401
A. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle upon any public highway of this state during the period of suspension, revocation or cancellation of any license which may have been issued to him by this state or by any other state.
B.(1) Any period of suspension or revocation shall automatically be extended for a period of one year from the date the licensee would otherwise have been entitled to apply for a new license upon his conviction for any offense involving the operation of a motor vehicle committed during such period. No driver shall use a license issued to him in another state or the privilege of a nonresident to drive a motor vehicle in this state, upon receiving notice of his conviction, or of the entry of a plea of guilty and sentence thereupon, or of the forfeiture of bail in another state of federal jurisdiction for any offense, which if committed in this state, would be grounds for suspension or revocation of the license.
(2) The court may order a licensee who violates the provisions of Subsection A of this Section to have an ignition interlock device installed on any vehicle in which the licensee operates when the license was suspended, revoked, or canceled pursuant to the implied consent law in accordance with the provisions of La. Rev. Stat. 32:661 et seq. or for a violation of any of the following:
(a) La. Rev. Stat. 14:98.
(e) A parish or municipal ordinance that prohibits the operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
(3) If the provisions of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection are ordered by a court, the court shall order that the ignition interlock device remain installed for a period of time not less than the remaining period of suspension, revocation, or cancellation.
C.(1) A person with a Class “D” or Class “E” driver’s license who violates the provisions of Subsection A of this Section may be fined up to five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both, and may be subject to a civil penalty of up to one thousand two hundred fifty dollars. A person shall not be arrested or imprisoned for a violation of this Section due solely to a suspension imposed pursuant to La. Rev. Stat. 32:414(R)(1).
(2) A person with a Class “A”, “B”, or “C” driver’s license who violates the provisions of Subsection A of this Section may be fined up to five thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than six months or both and may be subject to a civil penalty of up to two thousand five hundred dollars.
D.(1) If the court finds that the defendant violated Subsection A at the time of conduct resulting in a conviction for a second or subsequent offense violation of La. Rev. Stat. 14:98, the offender shall be fined not less than three hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars and imprisoned for not less than seven days nor more than six months. At least seven days of such imprisonment shall be without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence and shall be consecutive to any sentence imposed for the violation of La. Rev. Stat. 14:98. In addition the person may be subject to a civil penalty of up to one thousand two hundred fifty dollars.
(2) If the person is operating a Group “A”, “B”, or “C” vehicle, and the court finds that the defendant violated Subsection A of this Section, at the time of conduct resulting in a conviction for a second or subsequent offense in violation of La. Rev. Stat. 14:98, the offender shall be fined not less than three hundred dollars nor more than five thousand dollars and imprisoned for not less than seven days nor more than six months. At least seven days of such imprisonment shall be without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence and shall be consecutive to any sentence imposed for the violation of La. Rev. Stat. 14:98. In addition, the person may be subject to a civil fine of up to two thousand five hundred dollars.
Amended by Acts 1954, No. 165, §6; Acts 1968, No. 273, §12; Acts 1968, No. 599, §1; Acts 1974, No. 508, §1; Acts 1982, No. 556, §1; Acts 1984, No. 457, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1985; Acts 1986, No. 680, §1; Acts 1989, No. 293, §1, eff. June 27, 1989; Acts 1993, No. 382, §1; Acts 2004, No. 905, §1; Acts 2022, No. 701, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2023.
NOTE: SEE ACTS 1984, NO. 457, §3.