Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:540 – Arrest
Terms Used In Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:540
- Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
- Commissioner: means the secretary of the Department of Public Safety as provided for in La. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:451
- Motor vehicle: means every vehicle, as herein defined, which is self propelled. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:451
- Person: means every natural person, individual, firm, copartnership, corporation, company, association, or joint stock association or other organization. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:451
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
- Vehicle: means every device in, upon, or by which any person, property, or thing is or may be transported or drawn upon a public highway excepting devices moved by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks; provided, that for the purpose of this Chapter, a bicycle or a ridden animal shall not be deemed a vehicle, and provided further that a trailer or semitrailer shall be held and deemed each to be and constitute a separate vehicle. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:451
Any officer of the Division of State Police or other peace officer or any authorized representative of the commissioner has the right, power, and authority to arrest, without warrant, and take before any committing magistrate of the parish in which the offense shall have been committed any person violating or whom such officer has reasonable grounds to suspect has violated any of the provisions of this Chapter. The district attorney of the district in which such parish is situated and the commissioner shall be notified and the district attorney may be required by the presiding judge to attend upon the date fixed for the trial and to represent the state. When such arrests are made, under circumstances which jeopardize or endanger the safety or security of the motor vehicle involved or that of its passengers or load, the officer shall afford a reasonable opportunity to the operator of the vehicle to provide reasonable security therefor.