§505. Number plates

A. The commissioner shall furnish to every owner whose vehicle should be registered, a plate of a style, pattern, design and construction as may be determined by the commissioner, provided however, that for purposes of enforcing the provisions of R.S. 32:62 B registration license plates issued to the owners of house trailers not equipped with brakes and of less than fifteen feet in length shall be the same in color and design as those issued to the owners of house trailers equipped with brakes and of not less than fifteen feet nor more than thirty-two feet in length. However, the commissioner shall issue to the owners of house trailers which are more than thirty-two feet in length, registration license plates of a color and design differing from those issued to the owners of house trailers of less than thirty-two feet in length.

B.(1) The commissioner shall require the removal of all number plates upon termination of the lawful use thereof by the owner. However, the commissioner may transfer a number plate, as long as the plate remains legible, when a licensee replaces a motor vehicle. At the time the vehicle is replaced, the licensee shall remove the number plate and present it to any office of motor vehicles field office with the appropriate paperwork indicating replacement of the vehicle. The office of motor vehicles shall transfer the plate to the replacement vehicle, and the transfer shall be completed at the time the licensee presents the number plate and the appropriate paperwork. The secretary shall promulgate rules and regulations as are necessary to implement the provisions of this Paragraph, including but not limited to requirements for paperwork indicating replacement of the vehicle and procedure for transfer of number plates.

(2) Any dealer of motor vehicles who receives a lease return or a previously owned vehicle with the intention of reselling such vehicle shall remove the license or number plate from such vehicle before resale. After the dealer so removes the plate, he shall submit electronic notification to the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, which states he has received the vehicle, removed the license or number plate from such vehicle, and intends to resell the vehicle. The dealer shall attach the title and registration to the electronic notification. He shall electronically notify the secretary monthly of all plates so removed and destroyed. The Department of Public Safety and Corrections, upon receipt of the electronic notification of a transfer on such vehicle, shall issue a new plate to the new owner in the same manner as if the vehicle had no plate issued to it. The knowing submission of a false electronic notification shall be false swearing under R.S. 14:125.

C. Whenever a plate has been destroyed or rendered useless, the owner shall give notice thereof, including the number of such plate, to the commissioner.

D. It is unlawful for any manufacturer or dealer to use or display a dealer's plate upon any vehicle not manufactured by such manufacturer or being bona fide demonstrated, sold, purchased, or exchanged by such dealer, or to permit such a dealer's plate to be used in any manner upon the vehicle belonging to himself or his employees, associates, agents, or representatives, or upon any vehicles being operated other than as an incident to and part of the legitimate object and purpose for which such plates are issued.

E. Except as otherwise provided herein, every number plate shall have displayed upon it the registration number assigned to the vehicle and to the owner thereof, the name of this state, which may be abbreviated, and the registration period for which it is issued. Such plates and the required letters and numerals thereon, except the registration period for which issued, shall be of sufficient size to be plainly readable from a distance of one hundred (100) feet during daylight. The commissioner may design and have constructed plates that may be used for more than one registration period when he deems it advisable to do so.

F. If it is established to the satisfaction of the commissioner that due to economic conditions or unavailability of materials it is impractical to issue license plates, he is authorized to provide windshield stickers or some similar means of evidence of payment of the tax and to require that owners of all kinds and types of trucks, semi-trailers, and trailers, stencil on the side or rear of each such vehicle the weight and type of registration purchased for the vehicle. If the commissioner provides windshield stickers or some similar means of evidence of payment of the tax he shall not be required to issue new registration certificates, as provided in R.S. 47:504 for vehicles registered during the preceding registration period.

G. Upon written request by the applicant, the commissioner may issue for commercial vehicles the same type of license plate issued to private passenger vehicles, provided that the cost of said plate shall be at the regular commercial rate.

H. The commissioner is hereby authorized to adopt the use of a number plate which may be retained in use by the owner of the licensed vehicle for as long as the plate remains legible and to adopt the use of tabs or emblems which may be attached to the number plate to signify renewals thereof. In accordance with the provisions of Paragraph (B)(1) of this Section, the commissioner may transfer a number plate, as long as the plate remains legible, when a licensee replaces a vehicle. The issuance and design of the number plates and the tabs or emblems therefor shall be executed under such rules and regulations as the commissioner may prescribe.

I. Upon written request by any applicant who possesses a citizen's band radio license, accompanied by proof of ownership of said license issued by the Federal Communications Commission, the commissioner may issue license plates bearing the call numbers issued to such applicant for the operation of a citizen's band radio. The costs of the issuance of said license to the applicant shall be the sum of fifty dollars plus the normal registration fee.

Amended by Acts 1962, No. 318, §1; Acts 1968, No. 181, §2; Acts 1968, No. 382, §1; Acts 1974, No. 171, §1; Acts 1975, No. 574, §1; Acts 1976, No. 395, §1; Acts 1988, No. 987, §1, eff. July 27, 1988; Acts 1989, No. 151, §1; HCR No. 6, 1989 2nd E.S., eff. July 9, 1989; Acts 2001, No. 511, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2003; Acts 2016, No. 673, §1.