Opinion ID: 1102227
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: issues

Text: Acts 1997, No. 1486 authorizes the impounding of a motor vehicle when the operator fails to present the statutorily required proof of insurance to an investigating officer. The trial court declared portions of this Act to be an unconstitutional violation of the right to due process under the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Art. I, § 2 of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974. Specifically, the trial court found that prior to the impoundment of the vehicle, an owner must be given a hearing on whether or not he is in compliance with this state's compulsory motor vehicle liability insurance laws. Upon careful review of the jurisprudence and applicable law, we reverse, finding the motor vehicle owner's due process rights are adequately protected by the postdeprivation remedies provided under the Act. We also reject plaintiffs' arguments that notice to the owner of the impoundment is deficient and that the Act is unconstitutionally vague. We remand the case to the trial court for consideration of plaintiffs' remaining challenges to the constitutionality of this Act.