The Department of Transportation and Development has authority to regulate traffic on highways, issue and publish certain orders, enforce listed laws, and create a force that can enforce those laws, with a weapon-carrying condition tied to P.O.S.T. training.
§2. Authority of Department of Transportation and Development A.(1) The department, as an exercise of the police power of this state, shall supervise and regulate all traffic on all highways within the state highway system and shall have the authority in its discretion to supervise and regulate all traffic on all highways within this state; promulgate rules and regulations not inconsistent with this Chapter and the general laws relative to highways and their construction, maintenance, and use, and the operation of vehicles and pedestrians thereon; and investigate the highways by utilizing surveys, traffic counts, etc., and effect methods and practices thereto, as in its judgment and experience it deems advisable. (2) All rules and regulations promulgated by the department shall be adopted in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act. (3) All orders issued by the department relative to the determination of a maximum or minimum speed limit on a highway or weight limit on a bridge shall be published on the official website of the department. Any such order issued by the department shall become effective upon the erection of signs on the affected highway or bridge. B. The department shall enforce the provisions of R.S. 32:380 through 388.1 and 390, R.S. 47:718 and the provisions of Chapter 4 of Subtitle II of Title 47 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950 relating to trucks, trailers, and semi-trailers and Part V of Chapter 7 of Subtitle II of Title 47 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950 and the department's regulations adopted pursuant thereto on all highways within this state and shall exercise other power and authority as is specifically set forth in this Chapter or other laws of this state. C.(1) The Weights and Standards Stationary Scales Police Force is hereby created within the department. It may enforce the provisions of R.S. 32:380 through 388.1 and 390, R.S. 47:718 and the provisions of Chapter 4 of Subtitle II of Title 47 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950 relating to trucks, trailers, and semi-trailers; Part V of Chapter 7 of Subtitle II of Title 47 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950; the provisions of R.S. 32:389; and the access laws and regulations relative to controlled access highways. (2) Members of the Weights and Standards Stationary Scales Police Force are authorized to carry weapons and to make arrests in the enforcement of these laws and regulations, and in that regard, shall have the same authority and powers conferred by law upon other law enforcement officers of this state; however, no member of the Weights and Standards Stationary Scales Police Force shall be authorized to carry a weapon until the member has received P.O.S.T. certification training. D. The Department of Transportation and Development shall have sole authority over the issuance of special permits as set forth in R.S. 32:387. E. Repealed by Acts 2021, No. 384, §5, July 1, 2022. Amended by Acts 1968, No. 340, §1; Acts 1977, No. 113, §1, eff. June 22, 1977; Acts 1978, No. 35, §1, eff. May 31, 1978; Acts 1982, No. 459, §1, eff. July 21, 1982.; Acts 1997, No. 273, §1; Acts 1997, No. 1186, §1; Acts 2010, No. 320, §§1, 2, eff. July 1, 2010; Acts 2012, No. 496, §1, eff. June 5, 2012; Acts 2021, No. 384, §§1, 5, eff. July 1, 2022.