La. Admin. Code tit. 70 § XXV-105

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section XXV-105 - Exemptions

A. Unless otherwise indicated, the following exemptions from payments of tolls shall be applicable to ferry passengers using DOTD ferries, including ferries operating in the metropolitan New Orleans area.

1. Students. Students attending a school, including universities, colleges, and secondary schools, shall have free passage during the hours of 6 a.m.-9:30 a.m., and 2:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m., for the purpose of traveling to and from school.

a. Procedures for Students

i. For all DOTD operated ferries, the appropriate school official, the registrar of the college or university attended by the student, or the principal, headmaster, or administrator of the school attended by the student, shall provide DOTD with a letter certifying that the student is enrolled at the school and the length of the school year and mail same to the DOTD annex building located at 1212 E. Highway Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, certifying that the student is enrolled at the school and the length of the school year.

ii. Upon approval, the student will receive a student pass for free passage.

iii. Lost, stolen, or damaged vehicle passes will not be replaced.

iv. Loss of Privilege. Any prohibited use of student vehicle passes will result in the loss of the privilege to obtain and use passes and toll tags and any other remedy provided by law.

v. Student exemptions shall expire with each school year.

2. School Buses. All easily identified and clearly marked school buses shall be exempt from the payment of tolls. This exemption shall include publicly-owned school buses, school buses carrying public students under contract, parochial school buses, and private school buses funded in a fashion that allows them to publicly display "school bus" thereon or identified in a like fashion.

3. Militia. Any person belonging to the organized militia of the state who is in uniform or presents an order for duty shall be allowed free passage for himself, his conveyance, and the military property of the state in his charge, on ferries while going to, engaged in, or returning from any parade, drill, or meeting which he is required to attend, or upon being called to, engaging in, or returning from any active state duty ordered by the governor.

4. Disabled Veterans. A disabled American veteran who provides proper identification shall be allowed free passage for himself, his conveyance, and his passengers. This exemption shall not apply to the Algiers Point/Canal Street ferry.

5. Firemen/Volunteer Firemen. Firemen as defined in R.S. 33:1991(A)shall have free and unhampered passage on and over toll bridges and ferries in this state, regardless of whether the firemen are in uniform or in civilian clothes, when the firemen are performing firefighting or related duties. For purposes of this Rule, "related duties" shall include traversing to and from their place of employment. Volunteer firemen as defined in R.S. 33:1975(B) shall have free and unhampered passage on and over toll bridges and ferries in this state only when such firemen are performing official firefighting or fire prevention services.

a. Procedures

i. Firemen and volunteer firemen wishing to obtain free passage over any ferry shall present a picture identification card for inspection by the toll collector. The identification card must be issued by the municipality, parish or district as referred to in R.S. 33:1991(A).

ii. Fireman and volunteer fireman shall be required to sign a register at the ferry station and shall provide the name of the agency, municipality, parish or district for which they are employed or engaged.

iii. Off-duty firemen are not exempt unless, as part of the off duty employees official duties, he or she is on call for immediate duty.

6. Law Enforcement Personnel. Free passage shall be granted to all law enforcement personnel employed by a law enforcement agency on a full-time basis when operating law enforcement agency equipment.

a. Law enforcement agency means any agency of the state or its political subdivisions and the federal government, responsible for the prevention and detection of crime and the enforcement of the criminal, traffic, or highway laws of this state or similar federal laws and who are employed in this state. This exemption does not apply to officers who serve in a voluntary capacity or as honorary officers.

b. Agencies eligible for this exemption shall include the Louisiana State Police, enforcement division agents of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, sheriff departments of the parishes of this state, municipal police departments, levee board police departments, port police departments, and United States law enforcement agencies such as United States Secret Service, the United States Marshal Service, United States Customs and Border Protection, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation if employed within Louisiana.

c. Law enforcement personnel wishing to gain free passage on ferries must sign a register at the toll collections site and must produce picture identification.

7. All emergency vehicles performing a public service that permits them, under existing laws and regulations, to display emergency vehicle lights in order to carry out police, fire and ambulance functions in accordance with the laws relative thereto, when such lights are in actual use. This exemption shall also apply to emergency vehicles privately owned but entitled to such public emergency usage. This exemption shall not apply to those vehicles operated by off duty personnel unless, as part of the off duty employees official duties, he or she is on call for immediate duty.

8. Youth Groups. In accordance with R.S. 48:999, members of the Boy Scouts of America, the Girls Scouts of America, and Camp Fire Girls, when assembled in uniform in a parade or group consisting of not less than fifteen and under the supervision of a scout master or other responsible person, shall have free and unhampered passage at all times. This exemption shall not apply to ferries operating under contract with the Department of Transportation and Development.

9. Parish Employees. In accordance with R.S. 48:1000, all employees of parish governing authorities in official parish governing authority vehicles in their passage to and from work, or on an official project of the parish governing authority, shall be exempt from the payment of ferry tolls provided the ferry landings are located in the same parish and leased or controlled by the state. This exemption shall not apply to ferries operating under contract with the Department of Transportation and Development.

10. DOTD official vehicles displaying the DOTD logo.

La. Admin. Code tit. 70, § XXV-105

Promulgated by the Department of Transportation and Development, Office of Operations, LR 40:2598 (12/1/2014).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 17:157, R.S. 17:158, R.S. 29:27, R.S. 33:1975, R.S. 40:1392, R.S. 48:999, and R.S. 48:1000.