Louisiana Administrative Code › Title 73 - WEIGHTS, MEASURES AND STANDARDS › Part I - Weights and Standards › Chapter 19 - Escort Requirements for Oversize and/or Overweight Vehicles or Loads › Section I-1901 - Provision Enforcement

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 6, June 20, 2024
A. The
				Department of Transportation and Development is authorized to administer this
				policy and to enforce its provisions, including the issuance of the necessary
				permits and decals for properly equipped escort vehicles.
B. Escort vehicles may be furnished by the
				permittee or by private escort service, provided the following regulations are
				complied with.
1. An oversize and/or
				overweight permit is required for each escort movement. The driver of the
				escort vehicle shall make certain that a permit has been issued and shall
				familiarize himself with and abide by requirements of the issued permit. The
				Department of Transportation and Development has authority to require and to
				regulate escorts under the provisions of
				R.S.
				32:327.C and
				R.S.
				32:387.B(3).
2. The escorting vehicle shall be registered
				in accordance with Louisiana Revised Statutes or reciprocal agreement. Closed
				vans, buses, campers, motor homes, and motor driven cycles are not acceptable.
				Louisiana based automobiles used as escort vehicles are no longer considered
				private passenger vehicles and, therefore, must carry commercial plates. If the
				escort vehicle is domiciled outside the state of Louisiana, a 48-hour trip
				permit is required for intrastate movements, otherwise escorting is limited to
				interstate movement only.
3. At no
				time may an escort vehicle pull a trailer or tow another vehicle.
4. Each company which operates an escort
				service in this state and which is domiciled in another state shall register
				annually with the secretary in accordance with rules and regulations adopted by
				the secretary. Proof is required that each vehicle operated in this state by
				the applicant is insured in the same amount as is required for escort companies
				domiciled in this state. Each driver of an escort vehicle must have a valid
				operator's license issued by a state or territory of the U.S. The fee for each
				application for registration is $10. A 48-hour trip permit is required for
				intrastate movements, otherwise escorting is limited to interstate movement
				only.
5. All statutory provisions
				must be complied with; except those waived by the permit or "Escorting
				Procedures" stipulated herein.
6.
				All applicants for escort vehicles shall provide proof to the Department of
				Transportation and Development Weights and Standards officer of insurance for
				not less than $50,000 for bodily injury to or death of one person in any one
				accident, $100,000 for bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in any
				one accident, and $50,000 for injury to or destruction of property to others in
				any one accident. Applicant shall sign an affidavit that said coverage of
				insurance will remain effective for the duration of the permits.
7. An escort driver, domiciled in Louisiana,
				must be licensed with a appropriate "D" or "E" license.
8. The driver of the escort vehicle must be
				able to read and understand this directive.
9. The driver of the escorting vehicle is
				responsible for the movement and shall ensure that the escorted vehicle is
				operated in a manner consistent with these provisions and all provisions on the
				permit. In the event the driver of the escorted vehicle does not, or refuses to
				operate in accordance with these stipulations, the driver of the escort vehicle
				shall terminate the movement and report this action to the proper company
				officials or local police authority or to the Department of Transportation and
				Development Weights and Standards Police Headquarters in Baton Rouge (225)
				377-7100.
10. It shall be the
				responsibility of the driver of the escort vehicle to operate as a warning
				vehicle only. The driver shall not run traffic lights, fail to stop at stop
				signs, improperly pass, etc. His authorization to warn motorists of danger
				shall not imply that the vehicle is or should be used as a police and/or
				emergency vehicle.
11. Escorts and
				flagmen (when flagmen are required) engaged in escorting loads on the highways
				of the state of Louisiana shall present a neat appearance and shall be
				courteous in their contact with the motoring public at all times.
12. All costs incidental to escorts, such as
				telephone calls, telegrams, etc., shall be borne by the escort or
				permittee.
13. The equipment and
				permit required on escort vehicles shall be available for inspection on demand
				of proper authorities.
14. Payment
				for escort service shall be determined by the escort and the
				permittee.
15. Self or private
				escorts shall not escort any movement in excess of 16 feet wide on two-lane
				highways or multi-lane highways. Escorts must be furnished for all movements in
				excess of 12 feet in width or in excess of 90 feet in length and for any other
				movement when so designated by the Department of Transportation and Development
				or the Office of State Police.
16.
				No current full-time employee of the Department of Transportation and
				Development shall be used for or engage in self or private escort service.
				Under the existing policy of the Department of Public Safety, Office of State
				Police, an off-duty trooper or DPS police officer working in uniform may serve
				as escort for movements of oversize and/or overweight loads.
17. In the event a state police escort is
				required, the permittee shall pay the escort fee, or any portion thereof, in
				addition to pay of the off-duty trooper or DPS police officer.
18. Escorts of house movements, overweight
				loads when required by the Department of Transportation and Development, and
				other loads needing police authority during movement, shall be escorted by the
				Office of State Police, unless made within a city's limits where the authority
				may be the city police.
19. The
				owner and/or operator of the escort vehicle agrees to hold harmless the
				Department of Transportation and Development and its duly appointed agents and
				employees against any action for personal injury or property damage sustained
				by reason of the authority to escort an oversize load.
20. The Department of Transportation and
				Development Weights and Standards Police of the Office of State Police, will
				determine that proper escort procedures are complied with and shall have full
				authority to enforce all provisions of the permit and escort regulations. The
				authority to revoke the escort vehicle permit shall rest with the Department of
				Transportation and Development.