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ENROLLED
ACT No. 9512026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 723
BY REPRESENTATIVE HORTON
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 32:232(3)(a), (b), (e), (f), and (g) and to enact R.S. 32:232(3)(h),
3 relative to driver compliance with traffic-control signals; to authorize the driver of
4 a two or three-wheeled motorcycle, moped, or bicycle or electric bicycle to proceed
5 through an intersection controlled by a vehicle-actuated traffic-control signal under
6 certain circumstances; and to provide for related matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 32:232(3)(a), (b), (e), (f), and (g) are hereby amended and reenacted
9 and R.S. 32:232(3)(h) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
10 §232. Traffic-control signals
11 Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic-control signals exhibiting different
12 colored lights, or colored lighted arrows, successively one at a time or in
13 combination, only the colors green, red, and yellow shall be used, except for special
14 pedestrian signals carrying a word legend, and said lights shall indicate and apply to
15 drivers of vehicles and pedestrians as follows:
16 * * *
17 (3) Steady RED indication:
18 (a) Vehicular traffic facing a steady circular red signal alone shall stop at a
19 clearly marked stop line, or if none, then before entering the crosswalk on the near
20 side of the intersection, or if none, then before entering the intersection, and shall
21 remain standing until an indication to proceed is shown except as provided in
22 Subparagraph (c) and (e) of this Paragraph.
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1 (b) Vehicular traffic facing a steady red arrow signal shall not enter the
2 intersection to make the movement indicated by the arrow and, unless entering the
3 intersection to make a movement permitted by another signal, shall stop at a clearly
4 marked stop line, or if none, then before entering the crosswalk on the near side of
5 the intersection, or if none, then before entering the intersection, and shall remain
6 standing until an indication permitting the movement indicated by such red arrow is
7 shown except as provided in Subparagraph (c) and (e) of this Paragraph.
8 * * *
9 (e)(i) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, including
10 this Paragraph, if the driver of a two or three-wheeled motorcycle, moped, or bicycle
11 or any electric bicycle approaches an intersection influenced by a vehicle-actuated
12 control, the driver may proceed through the intersection on a steady red light only
13 if the driver does all of the following:
14 (aa) Comes to, and maintains, a full and complete stop at the intersection for
15 two complete cycles of the traffic-control signal or for two minutes, whichever
16 occurs first.
17 (bb) Treats the traffic control device as a stop sign.
18 (cc) Determines it is safe to proceed.
19 (dd) Yields the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent
20 crosswalk.
21 (ee) Yields the right-of-way to the driver of any vehicle approaching an
22 intersection from either direction.
23 (ii) For purposes of this Subparagraph, the following definitions shall apply:
24 (aa) "Cycle" means the total time to complete one sequence of signalization
25 for all movements at an intersection. In a vehicle-actuated controller system, the
26 cycle is a complete sequence of all signal indications.
27 (bb) "Vehicle-actuated control" means a system that manages the signal
28 through automatically moving vehicles. The actuated signal timing is influenced by
29 traffic demand, and it is detected through sensors at all the approaches. Two
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1 complete cycles of a traffic-control signal constitutes being vehicle-actuated
2 influenced.
3 (e) (f) Notwithstanding any provision contained in this Section to the
4 contrary, for red indications or signal infractions, if the violation results in the injury
5 of another person, the offender shall be fined not less than two hundred dollars nor
6 more than five hundred dollars and may be subjected to a driver's license suspension
7 for a period of ninety days, or both.
8 (f) (g) If the violation results in the serious bodily injury of another person,
9 the offender shall be fined not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one
10 thousand dollars, imprisoned for not more than six months, or both. The offender
11 may also be subjected to a driver's license suspension for a period of one hundred
12 eighty days.
13 (g) (h) If the violation results in the death of another person, the offender
14 shall be fined not less than one thousand dollars nor more than five thousand dollars,
15 imprisoned for not more than one year, or both. The offender may also be subjected
16 to a driver's license suspension for a period of up to three hundred sixty-five days.
17 * * *
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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