§ 32:415 — Operating vehicle while license is suspended; offenses in other states; record of

§415. Operating vehicle while license is suspended; offenses in other states; record of
offenses given other states
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 R.S. 32:661 et seq. or for a violation of any
of the following:
(a) R.S. 14:98.
(b) R.S. 14:32.1.
(c) R.S. 14:39.1.
(d) R.S. 14:39.2.
(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 R.S.
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 R.S. 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 R.S. 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 R.S. 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 R.S. 14:98. In addition,
the person may be subject to a civil fine of up to two thousand five hundred dollars.
NOTE: SEE ACTS 1984, NO. 457, §3.

Legislative History

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.