§ 48:274.1 — Placing of specific information logo signs on interstate highways; contracts with

Louisiana § 48:274.1

• Jurisdiction: Louisiana
• Title 48: Roads, Bridges and Ferries

Text

§274.1. Placing of specific information logo signs on interstate highways; contracts with
third parties
A.(1) The department may regulate the content, composition, placement, erection,
and maintenance of specific information logo signs and supports within interstate and other
fully controlled access highway rights-of-way, or the department may contract with a
qualified third party or parties for the placement, erection, and maintenance of specific
information logo signs and supports within interstate and other fully controlled access
highway rights-of-way. The department may expend any available federal funds for erecting
and maintaining specific information logo signs and supports.
(2)(a) If the department contracts with a qualified third party or parties for the
placement, erection, and maintenance of specific information logo signs and supports within
interstate and other fully controlled access highway rights-of-way, selection of the qualified
third party or parties shall be made pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 39:1554(B). The
department and the qualified third party or parties shall negotiate the terms and conditions
of their contract; however, the qualified third party or parties shall be required to deposit all
revenues received pursuant to the contract into a separate account and provide the department
with a full accounting of such revenues every three months. The qualified third party or
parties shall pay to the department a minimum of one hundred fifty thousand dollars per year
or ten percent of the gross revenue of the logo signing program, whichever is greater, for use
of rights-of-way. The term of the initial contract shall not exceed five years; however, the
department may extend the initial term of the contract for not more than four additional five-year periods.
(b) If the department contracts with a qualified third party or parties according to the
provisions of this Paragraph, an advisory committee shall be formed to monitor and make
recommendations to the qualified third party or parties regarding the placement, erection, and
maintenance of specific information logo signs and supports within interstate and other fully
controlled access highway rights-of-way. The advisory committee shall be composed of the
chief executive officers, or their designees, of the following: Louisiana Restaurant
Association, Louisiana Hotel and Lodging Association, Louisiana Travel Promotion
Association, the Louisiana Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus, and the
Louisiana Oil Marketers and Convenience Store Association.
(3) The department shall establish appropriate and reasonable fees; however, the fees
shall not exceed the following:
(a) Four hundred seventy-five dollars, per direction, per mainline. However,
beginning in Fiscal Year 2005, the fee per mainline sign shall not exceed two hundred
seventy-five dollars; beginning in Fiscal Year 2006, the fee per mainline sign shall not
exceed three hundred seventy-five dollars; beginning in Fiscal Year 2007, the fee per
mainline sign shall not exceed four hundred twenty-five dollars; and beginning in Fiscal Year
2008, the fee per mainline sign shall not exceed four hundred seventy-five dollars.
(b) One hundred dollars per direction per ramp.
(c) Fifty dollars per trailblazer.
(4) The department shall promulgate rules and regulations in accordance with the
Administrative Procedure Act as are necessary for the implementation of this Section,
including but not limited to rules and regulations relative to contracting with a qualified third
party or parties.
(5) The ownership of the logo signs and supports erected and maintained by a
qualified third party or parties shall be the property of the state of Louisiana.
B.(1) For purposes of this Section "specific information logo signs" shall mean a
rectangular sign panel imprinted with the words "FUEL", "FOOD", "LODGING",
"CAMPING", or "ATTRACTION", and the businesses which offer those services on each
as provided for in administrative rules promulgated pursuant to this Section.
(2) The department shall incorporate the use of "RV friendly" markers on specific
information logo signs for establishments which cater to the needs of persons driving
recreational vehicles. Establishments which qualify for participation in the specific
information logo program and which also qualify as "RV friendly" may request the "RV
friendly" marker on their specific information logo sign. An "RV friendly" marker is a bright
yellow circle with a crescent smile under the letters RV. The department shall promulgate
rules and regulations, in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act,
as are necessary to implement the provisions of this Paragraph including rules and
regulations setting forth the minimum requirements that establishments must meet in order
to qualify as "RV friendly". These requirements shall include large parking spaces,
entrances, and exits which can easily accommodate recreational vehicles, and facilities with
appropriate overhang clearances, if applicable.
C. Each business identified on a specific information logo sign shall give written
assurance to the department of its conformity with all applicable laws concerning the
provision of public accommodations without regard to race, religion, color, sex, or national
origin, and shall not be in breach of that assurance.
D. All fees collected pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall be considered
as self-generated revenues and deposited by the secretary of the Department of
Transportation and Development into the state treasury for credit to the Department of
Transportation and Development. After compliance with the requirements of Article VII,
Section 9(B) of the Constitution of Louisiana relative to the Bond Security and Redemption
Fund, the monies so deposited shall be appropriated as self-generated revenues to the
Department of Transportation and Development.
E.-H. Repealed by Acts 1995, No. 490, §2.
I. The procedures for obtaining approval for programming, project authorizations,
and other actions for federal-aid projects which include these signs shall follow the same
procedures as other federal-aid projects in this state, as prescribed in Title 23 of the Code of
Federal Regulations Subpart C of Section 655 et seq.

Legislative History

Acts 1984, No. 681, §1; Acts 1992, No. 142, §1, eff. June 5, 1992; Acts 1992, No. 203, §1, eff. June 10, 1992; Acts 1992, No. 984, §15; Acts 1995, No. 96, §1; Acts 1995, No. 490, §§1, 2; Acts 1999, No. 606, §1, eff. June 30, 1999; Acts 2004, No. 125, §1; Acts 2004, No. 837, §1, eff. July 1, 2004; Acts 2005, No. 137, §1, eff. June 22, 2005.