reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:461.5. Removal of nonconforming advertising

RS 48:461.5 - Removal of nonconforming advertising
Any sign, display or device lawfully in existence along the interstate or primary systems on July 27, 1966 and which is not in conformity with the provisions contained herein shall not be required to be removed until July 1, 1970. Any other sign, display or device lawfully erected which does not conform to the provisions hereof shall not be required to be removed until the end of the fifth year after it becomes nonconforming.
Added by Acts 1966, No. 474, §1.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:461.7. Unlawful advertising

RS 48:461.7 - Unlawful advertising
Unlawful advertising shall be any sign, display or device which violates the provisions of this Part. The department shall give thirty days notice, by certified mail, to the owner of such device to remove same if it is a prohibited device or cause it to conform to regulations if it is an authorized device. If the owner of such device fails to act within thirty days, as required in the notice, the department shall remove the advertising device at the expense of the owner thereof.
Added by Acts 1966, No. 474, §1.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:461.8. Advertising in safety rest areas

RS 48:461.8 - Advertising in safety rest areas
A. In order to provide information in the specific interest of the traveling public, the department may maintain maps and permit informational directories and advertising pamphlets to be made available at safety rest areas, and to establish information centers at those areas for the purpose of informing the public of places of interest within the State and providing such other information as may be considered desirable.
B. The department may allow other public bodies of this State to operate and participate in the operation of such informational centers.
Added by Acts 1966, No. 474, §1.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:461.9. Limitations of junkyards

RS 48:461.9 - Limitations of junkyards
No person shall establish, operate or maintain a junkyard any portion of which is within one thousand feet of the nearest edge of the right of way of any interstate or primary highway, except the following:
(1) Those which are screened by natural objects, plantings, fences, or other appropriate means so as not to be visible from the main-traveled way of such highway, or otherwise removed from sight.
(2) Those located within areas which are zoned for industrial use under authority of law.
(3) Those located within unzoned areas, which areas shall be determined from actual land uses and defined by regulations to be promulgated by the department.
(4) Those which are not visible from the main-traveled way of such highway.
Added by Acts 1966, No. 474, §1.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:461.10. Junkyards lawfully in existence

RS 48:461.10 - Junkyards lawfully in existence
Any junkyard lawfully in existence on July 27, 1966 which is within one thousand feet of the nearest edge of the right of way and visible from the main-traveled way of any highway on the interstate or primary systems shall be screened, if the department determines that it is feasible to do so, by the department at locations on the highway right of way or in areas acquired for such purposes outside the right of way so as not to be visible from the main-traveled way of such highways.
Added by Acts 1966, No. 474, §1.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:461.11. Requirement as to screening

RS 48:461.11 - Requirement as to screening
The department is authorized to establish and promulgate rules and regulations governing the location, planting, construction and maintenance of screening or fencing required by this Part, including the materials to be used.
Added by Acts 1966, No. 474, §1.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:461.12. Acquisition of sites for removal and screening of junkyards

RS 48:461.12 - Acquisition of sites for removal and screening of junkyards
A. The department may acquire by donation, purchase, lease, exchange or expropriation such interest in lands as it may deem necessary to secure the relocation, removal or disposal of the following junkyards when it determines that the topography of the land adjoining the highway will not permit adequate screening of such junkyards or the screening of such junkyards would not be practical:
(1) Those lawfully in existence on July 27, 1966;
(2) Those lawfully along any highway made a part of the interstate or primary systems on or after July 27, 1966 and before January 1, 1968; and
(3) Those lawfully established on or after January 1, 1968.
B. Where required by state or federal law just compensation shall be paid the owner for the relocation, removal, or disposal of the junkyards listed in this Section.
Added by Acts 1966, No. 474, §1.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:461.13. Unlawful junkyards; injunction

RS 48:461.13 - Unlawful junkyards; injunction
Any junkyard which violates the provisions of this Part is hereby declared to be illegal and the department may apply to the court in the parish in which such junkyard is located for an injunction to require compliance with the provisions of this Part.
Added by Acts 1966, No. 474, §1.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:461.15. Agreements with federal government

RS 48:461.15 - Agreements with federal government
The department may enter into agreements with the Secretary of Commerce, as provided by Title 23, United States Code1, relating to the control of outdoor advertising and of junkyards in areas adjacent to the Interstate and Primary systems, including the establishment and operation of information centers at safety rest areas, and may take action in the name of the State to comply with the terms of such agreement.
Added by Acts 1966, No. 474, §1.
123 U.S.C.A. §101 et seq.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:461.16. Outdoor advertising devices on Interstate 10 between LaPlace and Jefferson Parish prohibited

RS 48:461.16 - Outdoor advertising devices on Interstate 10 between LaPlace and Jefferson Parish prohibited
Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 48:461.2, no outdoor advertising shall be erected or maintained within visual observation of the main traveled way of Interstate Highway 10 from a point one thousand feet east of the LaPlace interchange to the Jefferson Parish line.
Added by Acts 1972, No. 217, §1.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:461.17. Outdoor advertising devices on Interstate 10 in the Atchafalaya River Basin Area; prohibited

RS 48:461.17 - Outdoor advertising devices on Interstate 10 in the Atchafalaya River Basin Area; prohibited
Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 48:461.2, no outdoor advertising shall be erected or maintained within visual observation of the main traveled way of Interstate Highway 10 between the West Atchafalaya Basin Protection Levee and the East Atchafalaya Basin Protection Levee.
Added by Acts 1973, No. 129, §1.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:461.18. Outdoor advertising control extended beyond six hundred sixty feet

RS 48:461.18 - Outdoor advertising control extended beyond six hundred sixty feet
A. Control of outdoor advertising signs, displays and devices is extended to signs, displays and devices located beyond six hundred sixty feet of the edge of the right of way of the Federal Aid Interstate or Primary Systems outside of urban areas erected with the purpose of their message being read from the main traveled ways of such systems. Such signs, displays or devices are prohibited, whether or not in commercial or industrial areas, unless they are of a class or type allowed under Sections 461.1 through 461.8 within six hundred sixty feet of the edge of the right of way of such system outside of commercial or industrial areas.
B. The term "erected with the purpose of its message being read from the main traveled way of such system" shall not include a sign lawfully in existence adjacent to a highway not controlled under this section, which sign at a later date becomes visible from the main traveled way of an interstate or federal aid primary highway for which the right of way was acquired subsequent to the erection of the sign provided that such sign is not intended to be read primarily from the controlled highway. The circumstances of the sign's erection, the revenues generated by the sign, or changes in the sign's structure, purpose, or size may be considered in determining from which highway the sign is intended to be primarily read.
Added by Acts 1975, No. 617, §1.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:461.19. Just compensation payable for signs beyond six hundred sixty feet

RS 48:461.19 - Just compensation payable for signs beyond six hundred sixty feet
Legal outdoor advertising signs, displays or devices prohibited by Section 461.18 shall be removed upon the payment of just compensation in the same manner and subject to the same limitations as signs lawfully erected within six hundred sixty feet of the edge of the right of way of the Federal Aid Interstate and Primary Systems outside of commercial and industrial areas.
Added by Acts 1975, No. 617, §1.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:461.20. Landmark signs

RS 48:461.20 - Landmark signs
Signs lawfully in existence on October 22, 1965, determined by the state, subject to the concurrence of the United States Secretary of Transportation, to be landmark signs, including signs on farm structures or natural surfaces, of historic or artistic significance, the preservation of which would be consistent with the purposes of this Section, are not required to be removed.
Added by Acts 1975, No. 617, §1.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:461.21. Limitation of outdoor advertising devices

RS 48:461.21 - Limitation of outdoor advertising devices
In the event that the owner of an unlawful advertising sign fails or refuses to remove the sign after the thirty day notice from the department, as specified in Section 461.7, the department is authorized to give notice to the property owner and to enter upon the property whereon the sign is located and to dismantle and remove the unlawful sign from the premises, at the risk of the sign owner, to store the sign and to collect from the sign owner the cost of dismantling, removing, transporting, and storing the sign.
Added by Acts 1975, No. 617, §1. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 291, §1; Acts 1978, No. 187, §2, eff. Aug. 11, 1978.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:461.22. Advertising and junkyards between Mississippi River and its levees

RS 48:461.22 - Advertising and junkyards between Mississippi River and its levees
Any other provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, no outdoor advertising as described in R.S. 48:461.2(A)(4) and (5) and no junkyards as defined in this Part shall be erected or maintained within visual observation of the main traveled way of the interstate and primary highways in this state between the waters of the Mississippi River and the publicly maintained flood protection levees thereon, unless authorized in writing by the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Development.
Added by Acts 1977, No. 703, §1, eff. July 25, 1977.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:461.23. Economic Hardship Exemptions

RS 48:461.23 - Economic Hardship Exemptions
A. Outdoor advertising signs, displays and devices which provide directional information about goods and services in the interest of the traveling public, and are such that removal would work a substantial economic hardship in a defined area, and which were in existence on May 5, 1976, are exempt from the provisions of this Part and may be retained in the defined area, if approved by the Federal Highway Administration, pursuant to 23 C.F.R. §750.501 et seq.
B. A defined area, as used herein, is an area within clearly established geographical boundaries, ascertainable with reasonable certainty, which can be evaluated as an economic entity.
C. Signs exempted under this Section must meet with following requirements:
(1) Have been lawfully erected prior to May 5, 1976, and must continue to be lawfully maintained.
(2) Continue to provide the directional information to goods and services offered at the same enterprise in the defined area in the interest of the traveling public that was provided on May 5, 1976.
D. The department is authorized and directed to adopt and promulgate rules and regulations, within ninety days from the effective date hereof, for the administration and implementation of this Section, establishing and defining:
(1) Requirements for the directional content of signs to qualify the signs as directional signs to goods and services in defined areas.
(2) A method of economic analysis showing that the removal of signs would work a substantial economic hardship throughout the defined area.
E. Upon receipt of a petition, declaration or resolution from any state, parish or municipal agency, or subdivision, or from any industry association or trade association containing more than fifteen members, asserting or claiming that the removal of such signs providing directional information about goods and services in the interest of the traveling public, are such that removal would work a substantial economic hardship in a defined area, the department shall make appropriate application to the Federal Highway Administration for the exemption of such signs under the provision of 23 USC 131(o), and in accordance with Part 750, Title 23 of the Code of Federal Regulations, or in accordance with the appropriate federal statutes and regulations required to apply for exemption of such signs from federal control of outdoor advertising.
Added by Acts 1978, No. 187, §3, eff. Aug. 11, 1978.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:461.24. Removal or alteration of outdoor advertising devices

RS 48:461.24 - Removal or alteration of outdoor advertising devices
A. Except any such ordinance which was enacted by a governing authority prior to May 1, 1989, no municipal or parish governing authority shall require by ordinance, or by amendment to any ordinance, the removal, alteration, or adjustment of any on-premises outdoor advertising sign, display, or device lawfully erected prior to December 31, 1989.
B. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to limit the power of a municipal or parish governing authority to:
(1) Offer and pay the owner of on-premises outdoor advertising signs, displays, or devices just compensation for the removal or alteration of such advertising devices, upon mutual agreement by the governing authority and said owner.
(2) Require by ordinance the removal or alteration of an outdoor advertising sign, display, or device for which the entire normal and useful life of the device has expired.
(3) Require by ordinance the removal or alteration of an on-premises outdoor advertising sign, display, or device which is obsolete, unlawful, or illegal on the date of its installation, or in a condition of severe disrepair.
(4) Require by ordinance the removal or alteration of an on-premises outdoor advertising sign, display, or device which is located in such a manner as to obscure, obstruct, or otherwise interfere with the view of an official traffic sign, signal, or device, or obstruct or interfere with a motorist's view of approaching, merging, or intersecting traffic.
Acts 1989, No. 431, §1, eff. June 30, 1989; Acts 1990, No. 878, §1, eff. July 25, 1990.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:461.25. Outdoor advertising on Interstate Highway 310, in St. Charles Parish, between Interstate Highway 10 and the Mississippi River; prohibited

RS 48:461.25 - Outdoor advertising on Interstate Highway 310, in St. Charles Parish, between Interstate Highway 10 and the Mississippi River; prohibited
Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 48:461.2, no outdoor advertising shall be erected or maintained within visual observation of the main traveled way of Interstate Highway 310, in St. Charles Parish, between Interstate Highway 10 and the Mississippi River.
Acts 1992, No. 191, §1.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:461.27. Outdoor advertising devices in forestry management areas

RS 48:461.27 - Outdoor advertising devices in forestry management areas
A. The department may issue permits for outdoor advertising devices along highway rights-of-way in areas designated in a department forestry management plan. Applications for permits for devices in such areas may be denied if the department plans to reforest the area with trees or other vegetation which would eventually cause the location to be unfavorable for such use.
B. The term "forestry management plan" as used in this Section means that plan for use of areas within the highway rights-of-way of the interstate system for the harvesting and replanting of timber as determined by the Departments of Agriculture and Forestry and Transportation and Development.
Acts 2004, No. 163, §1, eff. June 10, 2004.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:481. Powers of parish governing authorities as to roads, bridges, and ditches; penalties

RS 48:481 - Powers of parish governing authorities as to roads, bridges, and ditches; penalties
Parish governing authorities may pass all ordinances which they think necessary relative to roads, bridges, and ditches, and may impose such penalties to enforce them as they think proper.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:482. Contracts for making and repairing bridges

RS 48:482 - Contracts for making and repairing bridges
Parish governing authorities may let out contracts for opening and repairing roads, making and repairing bridges, on the terms and conditions that they think most conducive to the public interest. However, they shall not make contracts for work exceeding in amount the funds in their treasury or the amount of taxes levied for that purpose.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:483. Draining of public roads

RS 48:483 - Draining of public roads
Parish governing authorities may drain the public roads of their respective parishes by cutting ditches and canals where necessary through private property. The ditches and drains shall be of sufficient size to drain both the public road and the lands over which they are opened. They shall be located where least injurious to the owner of the property.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:484. Employment of engineers

RS 48:484 - Employment of engineers
The governing authority of any parish may employ an engineer to design blacktop, concrete or other hard surfaced roads, highways, bridges and tunnels in the parish to be constructed with funds from the royalty road fund whenever the department of highways is unable to assign engineers for the purpose; provided that the design must be approved by the state department of highways.
Acts 1956, No. 418, §1.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:485. Designation of roads or streets

RS 48:485 - Designation of roads or streets
The governing authority of any parish may designate roads or streets located within the parish and outside of municipalities by assigning thereto road numbers and indicating the parish and ward in which such road is located and may post appropriate markers to inform the public of such number, parish and ward, and the numbering of such roads and the design of such markers may be coordinated through the Parish Road Section of the State Department of Highways for the purpose of achieving statewide uniformity.
Added by Acts 1968, No. 348, §1.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:511. Changing public road; penalty

RS 48:511 - Changing public road; penalty
A. No person shall turn, alter, or change any public road as defined in R.S. 48:491 and being a parish or municipal road, except upon order of the governing authority of the parish for a parish road, whether or not within a municipality, or upon order of the governing authority of the municipality for a municipal road.
B. Whoever violates this Section shall be fined one hundred dollars for each month the road is altered or turned out of its old course.
Acts 1989, No. 815, §1.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:512. Prohibition against closing, obstruction, or changing legal roads; restoring to former condition; exceptions

RS 48:512 - Prohibition against closing, obstruction, or changing legal roads; restoring to former condition; exceptions
A. No person shall close, obstruct, or change any legal road, public road, or street, as defined in R.S. 48:491 and being a parish or municipal road, except upon order of the governing authority of the parish for a parish road, whether or not within a municipality, or upon order of the governing authority of the municipality for a municipal road, except as hereinafter provided.
B. If any public road or street is closed, obstructed, or changed in violation of the provisions of this Section, the governing authority of the parish or the governing authority of the municipality shall summarily open the road, remove all obstructions therefrom, and restore it to its former condition, at the expense of the person who closed, obstructed, or changed the public road or street.
C. The governing authority of Orleans Parish may authorize a person to close, obstruct, or change a public road or street for a period not to exceed twelve consecutive months, provided that the governing authority determines that it is for a public purpose and in the best interests and for the benefit of the parish or municipality, provided further that such closing shall occur only after consultation with and approval by the secretary of the department, provided further that all obstructions be removed therefrom and the public roads or streets be restored for use by the general public at the sole expense of the person authorized to close, obstruct, or change a public road or street, and provided further that the removal of obstructions and the restoration of the public roads or streets be completed within the period authorized by the governing authority, which period shall not exceed twelve months.
Acts 1989, No. 815, §1; Acts 1991, No. 289, §15; Acts 2011, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 11, §1.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:571. Creation authorized; political subdivision

RS 48:571 - Creation authorized; political subdivision
Parish governing authorities may create road districts and sub-road districts in the manner and subject to the limitations and restrictions contained in this Part.
Road districts so created are sub-divisions of the state within the meaning of the laws of Louisiana relating to incurring debt and issuing bonds therefor.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:572. District, defined

RS 48:572 - District, defined
Whenever used in this Part, except in R.S. 48:574 through 48:576, "district" means "road district, sub-road district, or consolidated road district." In R.S. 48:574 through 48:576, "district" means only "road district or sub-road district."
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:574. Notice of intention to create district

RS 48:574 - Notice of intention to create district
No district shall be created under the provisions of this Part until the notice prescribed in this Section has been given. Parish governing authorities may give this notice upon their own initiative. They shall give the notice when requested so to do by the petition in writing of one-fourth of the property taxpayers residing within the proposed district.
Notice of intention to create a road district or sub-road district shall be ordered by resolution which shall state the territory the district is proposed to be composed of, and the proposed boundaries thereof. This notice shall embrace substantially all matters required to be set forth in the resolution ordering it and shall set forth further that the parish governing authority ordering it will, in open session, on a date and at an hour and place named therein, proceed to create the proposed district.
The notice shall be published once a week for four successive weeks, the first publication being not less than thirty days before the date fixed for the hearing. Publication shall be in a newspaper published in the parish. If there is none, the notice shall be posted at two public places in the parish and published in a newspaper published in an adjoining parish.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:575. Hearing of objections; powers of parish governing authority

RS 48:575 - Hearing of objections; powers of parish governing authority
The governing authority of the parish shall hear all objections at the time appointed or at any time to which the hearing thereof may be adjourned and pass upon them. Its decision thereon shall be final and conclusive.
At this hearing the parish governing authority may change the boundaries of the proposed district by excluding therefrom the lands of persons objecting or by including therein the lands of persons petitioning to be included.
After disposing of all objections, the parish governing authority shall, if it determines to create the district, adopt a resolution finally fixing the general boundaries of the district and giving the district a numerical designation and name, as follows:
"Road District No. ______ of the Parish of _____________."
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:576. Notice of formation

RS 48:576 - Notice of formation
Notice of the formation of the district shall be published in a newspaper published in the parish. If there is none, the notice shall be posted in two public places in the parish and published in a newspaper published in an adjoining parish. One publication is sufficient. If the parish governing authority, at the time it determines to create the district, also decides to submit to the qualified property taxpaying voters the question of incurring debt and issuing bonds of the district under the general laws of Louisiana, notice of the formation of the district and a description of the boundaries thereof may be included in the notice of election, in lieu of the above method. The notice of election shall be published in the manner prescribed by the general laws in relation to incurring debt and issuing bonds.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:577. Abolishing district or changing boundaries thereof; notice by resolution

RS 48:577 - Abolishing district or changing boundaries thereof; notice by resolution
The parish governing authority may abolish a district in its entirety or may change or alter the boundaries thereof. However, neither the existence nor the territorial boundaries of any district shall be affected in any manner which would impair any obligations that may have been incurred by it during the period of its existence. A preliminary resolution declaring the intention of the parish governing authority to abolish the district or to alter its boundaries shall be adopted, fixing a date for hearing. Notice of this hearing shall be given as provided in R.S. 48:574 for the formation of a road or sub-road district. A hearing shall be had thereon before any order shall be entered in any manner affecting the existence or territorial limits of any district.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:578. Domicile of districts

RS 48:578 - Domicile of districts
The domicile of each district is the parish seat of the parish in which it is created. The domicile of any district composed of territory partly within two or more parishes is the parish seat of the parish furnishing the most territory.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:581. Officers of districts; treasurer's bond

RS 48:581 - Officers of districts; treasurer's bond
The officers of the governing authority of the parish in which the particular district is located are the officers of the district. They shall serve without extra compensation. Where a district is composed of territory located wholly within one parish, the parish treasurer's bond also covers and guarantees the faithful performance of his duties as treasurer of the district.
Where a district is composed of territory partly within two or more parishes, the officers of the governing authority of the parish furnishing the most territory are the officers of the district. The treasurer of a district lying partly within two or more parishes shall furnish a special bond to be fixed by the governing authority of the district for the faithful performance of his duties as such. The premium thereof shall be paid by the district.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:582. Powers

RS 48:582 - Powers
Districts constitute public corporations, and as such have all the powers of public corporations. They have perpetual existence. They may incur debt and contract obligations; sue and be sued; have a corporate seal; do and perform all acts in their corporate capacity and in their corporate names necessary and proper for the purpose of constructing, maintaining, and improving public roads, highways, and bridges within their territorial limits, and for the ditching and drainage thereof; and generally may perform all acts necessary to carry out the object and purposes of their creation. They have the power of expropriating property for the purpose of acquiring rights of way for the building and constructing of public roads and highways and the cutting of necessary ditches and canals for the drainage thereof. They may acquire any machinery and equipment which is essential to the proper accomplishment of the purposes of their creation.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:583. Governing body of district

RS 48:583 - Governing body of district
If a district is composed of territory wholly within one parish, the governing authority of that parish is the governing authority of the district. If a district is composed of territory partly within two or more parishes, the governing authorities of those parishes in joint session constitute the governing authority of the district.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:584. Supervisory board; establishment; chairman and secretary

RS 48:584 - Supervisory board; establishment; chairman and secretary
The parish governing authority shall, on request of fifty per cent or more of the property tax payers resident in any district, appoint a supervisory board of three property tax payers, residing in the district. The property tax payers thus requesting may suggest the names of the members of the supervising board. In case of a contest or a failure to suggest, the parish governing authority shall exercise the discretion of choice.
The supervisors shall elect a chairman and a secretary from their own number. These officers shall serve without pay.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:585. Powers of supervisory board

RS 48:585 - Powers of supervisory board
The members of supervisory boards are the agents of the parish governing authority in all matters pertaining to road construction in their respective districts.
During road construction, the supervisors shall meet every week.
The supervisory board may, after the road bond or tax is voted, provide the specifications under the terms of this Part for road construction, call for bids, let the contract for road construction, and supervise the construction of the roads in the district. During construction the supervisors shall, with the concurrence of the parish governing authority, approve all estimates of work before they are paid by the governing body of the district.
After completion of construction, the supervisors shall meet only on call of the chairman. Their authority at that time extends only to the making of recommendations to the parish governing authority for the proper maintenance and repair of roads in their district.
The parish governing authority has, at all times, supervisory authority in all matters pertaining to road construction, location, and maintenance.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:587. Proposition to incur additional indebtedness

RS 48:587 - Proposition to incur additional indebtedness
When, subject to the provisions of Title 33, an election is called for the purpose of submitting to the property taxpayers of a parish the question of the assumption by the parish of the indebtedness of any or all of the districts wholly within the parish, the parish governing authority may, at the same election and contingent upon that election carrying, submit to the property taxpayers of the parish qualified to vote in that election a proposition to incur additional indebtedness and issue negotiable bonds therefor for the purpose of constructing, improving, and maintaining the public roads, highways, and bridges of the parish.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:588. Special tax for maintenance; election

RS 48:588 - Special tax for maintenance; election
Whenever an election is called by the governing authority of any parish or district for the purpose of incurring debt and issuing bonds therefor, for the purpose of acquiring, building, improving, or maintaining public roads or highways, the governing authority may, at the same time, submit to the property taxpayers of the parish or district a proposition to levy a special tax of not more than five mills on the dollar for a period of not more than ten years, for the purpose of maintaining and keeping in repair these public roads and highways.
When an indebtedness has been incurred in any parish or district and bonds have been issued therefor for the purpose of acquiring, building, maintaining, or improving public roads or highways, the governing authority of the parish or district may call an election throughout the parish or district for the purpose of submitting to the property taxpayers thereof the proposition set out in the first paragraph of this Section.
The rate, object, and purpose for which the tax is to be levied and the number of years it is to run shall be stated in the ordinance or resolution calling the election.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:589. Budget; provision for maintenance and repair

RS 48:589 - Budget; provision for maintenance and repair
Whenever any gravel or other hard-surfaced roads have been constructed in any parish or district, the governing authority of the parish in which the roads are located shall provide annually in its budget for the amounts which will be required for the maintenance and repair of the roads. Any taxpayer may, by appropriate action, enforce the fulfillment of this requirement. This Section does not apply in cases where a special tax has been voted in any parish or portion of a parish to provide for the maintenance of the roads or highways in that locality where the tax is levied.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:590. Consolidation of districts

RS 48:590 - Consolidation of districts
The governing authority of any parish in which there is one or more road districts or sub-road districts may, in the manner prescribed in R.S. 48:591, consolidate all of the road districts and sub-road districts or any number of them into one road district. It may, at the same time, add thereto and include in the new district any part or parts of the parish not previously included in a district.
Any such road district created shall be known as a consolidated road district and its bonds shall be known as consolidated road district bonds. No consolidated road district shall, however, comprise the entire territory of a parish. In case there is more than one consolidated road district in a parish, they shall be distinguished by adding to their names the letters A, B, C, etc.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:591. Procedure for creating consolidated road district

RS 48:591 - Procedure for creating consolidated road district
The procedure to create a consolidated road district is as follows:
The parish governing authority shall pass an ordinance or resolution which shall specify (but need not describe) the existing districts to be included in the consolidated road district and their respective indebtedness, both bonded and floating. It shall declare that it is advisable to consolidate the roads of the several districts, and any unorganized road territory existing in the parish, into a consolidated road system; and shall make an estimate of the amount of new money presently needed to enlarge and extend the district system or systems. However, the amount of new money, when added to the aggregate of the bonded and floating debt of the road districts included in the consolidated district, shall not exceed ten per cent of the assessed valuation of the consolidated road district.
This ordinance shall be published once in the official journal of the parish.
Not less than ten days after the publication of the ordinance, the parish governing authority shall call an election in the consolidated district. This election shall be called, proclaimed, held, and promulgated in all particulars as near as may be in the manner prescribed by the general laws in relation to incurring debt and issuing bonds. At this election there shall be submitted the question of the issuance of consolidated road district bonds: (1) in a specified sum, which shall be the aggregate of the districts' debt and the new money as declared in the ordinance or resolution; (2) bearing interest at a specified rate which is not more than the highest rate which any road bonds of any of the road districts bear, (3) payable annually or semi-annually as the parish governing authority decides, and (4) maturing not more than forty years after the date of the issuance thereof, for the purpose of acquiring and constructing roads the title to which shall vest in the consolidated road district.
If a majority in number and amount of the qualified property taxpayers who vote at the election vote in favor of the bonds, the parish governing authority shall promulgate and publish the result of the election and shall thereupon adopt and have published in the official journal two ordinances: the first declaring that the consolidated road district has been created and the second providing for the issuance of consolidated road district bonds.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:592. Liquidation bonds

RS 48:592 - Liquidation bonds
The bonding ordinance specified in R.S. 48:591 shall first order the preparation and execution of consolidated road district coupon bonds. These shall be of as many series as there are district bond issues and shall be called liquidation bonds. Except as to date of issue, which may be the date when the last interest coupon of the district issue was paid, each series shall be as nearly as possible identical with a corresponding issue of district bonds in denominations, date of maturity, date of interest payment, rate, percent, and recitals. Each series shall bear a series number which shall identify it with the issue it is intended to liquidate.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:593. Consolidated road district bonds

RS 48:593 - Consolidated road district bonds
After provision is made for the issuance of consolidated road district liquidation bonds, the parish governing authority, either in the same or in another ordinance or ordinances, may provide for the issuance and sale of consolidated road district bonds of another series to provide new money for road purposes. Bridges shall be considered part of a road and proceeds may be used for the construction and repair thereof. This last series of bonds shall conform in all particulars with the requirements of this Part in the case of original issues by road districts. All floating indebtedness and all liabilities theretofore incurred by consolidated road districts shall be paid out of the proceeds of the first such bonds sold.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:594. Custody of liquidation bonds; exchange of district bonds for liquidation bonds

RS 48:594 - Custody of liquidation bonds; exchange of district bonds for liquidation bonds
When the liquidation bonds have been prepared they shall be lodged with the State Treasurer. Any holder of a district bond may, upon surrendering the bond to the State Treasurer, receive in substitution therefor the corresponding liquidation bond. Until so exchanged the liquidation bonds shall, until they mature, continue in the possession of the State Treasurer.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:595. Tax to pay principal and interest; custody and disposition of district bonds

RS 48:595 - Tax to pay principal and interest; custody and disposition of district bonds
The parish governing authority shall, in proper time and manner, levy a tax sufficient to pay the interest upon all the bonds of each series as it accrues and to pay the principal as it matures. The sums so levied shall pay the principal or interest of the corresponding district bond. All district bonds and coupons when paid in accordance with their terms shall be lodged with the State Treasurer, who shall cancel the liquidation bonds and coupons corresponding thereto. When all the bonds of any series are thus cancelled by payment of the corresponding district bonds, the State Treasurer shall mutilate them so that they cannot be reissued and shall return them to the treasurer of the parish which issued them.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:596. Consolidated road districts succeed to liabilities, duties, and rights

RS 48:596 - Consolidated road districts succeed to liabilities, duties, and rights
The consolidated road district shall, upon lodging its liquidation bonds with the State Treasurer, succeed to and become charged with all the liabilities and duties and vested with all the rights, jurisdiction, and authority of the several districts included therein.
Nothing contained in this Section shall operate to extinguish the corporate existence of any district until all its debts and obligations have been paid.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:631. Anticipation of revenues from special tax; borrowing money

RS 48:631 - Anticipation of revenues from special tax; borrowing money
Where, pursuant to R.S. 48:588, a special tax has been voted and authorized on behalf of a parish, or a road, sub-road, or consolidated road district, the governing authority of the parish, the parish of Orleans excepted, may, in order to pay for building roads and bridges in the parish or district, anticipate the revenues to be realized from the special tax for a period of not more than five years and may borrow money on behalf of the parish or district for which the special tax was voted, and issue negotiable certificates of indebtedness covering the loan. This money shall be used only for the purposes for which the special tax was voted.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:632. Amount to be borrowed; payment of certificates of indebtedness

RS 48:632 - Amount to be borrowed; payment of certificates of indebtedness
The amount so borrowed for and on behalf of the parish or district shall not exceed seventy-five per cent of the estimated income to be realized from the special tax previously voted in the parish or district. The special taxes collected and the income therefrom shall be dedicated and set aside to the payment of the certificates of indebtedness as they mature.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:633. Due date of certificates; interest rate

RS 48:633 - Due date of certificates; interest rate
The certificates of indebtedness shall be made due and payable annually not later than March 1st of the years following that for which the special taxes shall be dedicated and set aside. They shall bear interest at a rate of not more than six per cent per year.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:634. Manner of issuance; valid obligations

RS 48:634 - Manner of issuance; valid obligations
The governing body of the parish shall provide by ordinance the manner and form of issuance of the certificates of indebtedness.
When issued in accordance with the provisions of this Part, the certificates are legal and valid obligations of the parish or district for and on whose behalf they were issued.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:671. Model roads through municipalities

RS 48:671 - Model roads through municipalities
Whenever necessary, parish governing authorities may construct good roads in whole or in part of the type commonly known as model roads through the corporate limits of municipalities to form a connection through the municipalities between the ends or terminals of good roads already constructed by the parish governing authorities to the limits of the municipalities.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:672. Issuance of bonds or certificates of indebtedness

RS 48:672 - Issuance of bonds or certificates of indebtedness
Where sufficient funds cannot be provided out of either the general or road funds of the parish, the parish governing authority may either issue bonds or certificates of indebtedness under existing laws for the purpose of constructing the roads.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 48 - Roads, Bridges and Ferries › §48:673. Appropriations by parish governing authorities for highways

RS 48:673 - Appropriations by parish governing authorities for highways
The governing authority of a parish may, for the purpose of connecting or completing permanent, or continuous highways, appropriate out of its general fund sufficient monies to defray not more than one-half of the total cost of constructing permanent, hard-surfaced paving in the municipalities of the parish. Such appropriations shall not exceed one hundred thousand dollars in any one year. The provisions of this Part shall not prejudice the right of any municipality to demand the return of any taxes for road purposes to which it may be entitled by law.