House Bill No. 344, introduced by Representative Bagley, proposes significant amendments to Louisiana's motor vehicle inspection requirements. The bill removes the obligation for most vehicles to display inspection stickers, retaining this requirement solely for commercial motor vehicles and those used for student transportation. It also eliminates the need for assembled vehicles to have inspection stickers and repeals the provision that allowed law enforcement to issue written notices for unsafe vehicle conditions, which previously provided a five-day period for owners to address such issues. Instead, law enforcement will now have the authority to issue citations for vehicles deemed unsafe or improperly equipped.

Furthermore, the bill modifies inspection requirements for vehicles registered in parishes that fall under the federal Clean Air Act, mandating emissions inspections in accordance with federal regulations. The proposed changes aim to simplify the inspection process and alleviate the regulatory burden on vehicle owners while maintaining safety and environmental standards for specific vehicle categories. The bill amends several sections of the Louisiana Revised Statutes, including R.S. 32:1301, 1302, 1304, 1306, and 1306.1, and repeals R.S. 32:707.5(D)(3) and 1303. Notably, it also includes the removal of inspection tag requirements specifically for the city of New Orleans, reflecting a targeted approach to streamline regulations and reduce administrative burdens related to vehicle inspections in the area.

Statutes affected:
HB344 Original: 32:1304(A)(1), 32:1306(C), 32:1(A), 32:5(D)(3)
HB344 Engrossed: 32:1304(A)(1), 32:1306(C), 32:1(A), 32:5(D)(3)