Driving just 1mph UNDER the speed limit could land motorists in jail in southern state
Several new traffic laws took effect Friday in the southern state, including one that criminalizes left-lane drivers going just 1 mph below the speed limit - a significant drop from the previous 10 mph threshold, as reported by The Mirror.
Rural interstate highways have a speed limit of 75mph, urban interstates are set at 70mph, divided highways at 65 mph, and most other roads typically have a 55mph limit, according to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD).
Drivers who fail to maintain the required speed - specifically in the left lane - will face a $150 fine for the first offense, with penalties increasing by $100 for each subsequent violation.
Those who repeatedly creep even slightly below the speed limit risk facing up to a month in jail.
Further details were laid out in this year's Act 24, which stated that a third offense within a 12-month period of the first will result in 'a fine of $350 or imprisonment for not more than thirty days, or both,' as reported by the outlet.
The new speed requirement is just one of several changes - drivers are now also prohibited from using or even holding a phone by hand while behind the wheel.
The ban covers all personal device use behind the wheel - from texting and scrolling through social media to navigating maps by hand.
The only exception to the law is using your phone completely hands-free - either through voice commands or a securely mounted device.
Violators of the new phone laws will receive warnings until January 1, after which fines of $100 will be handed out - rising to $250 for holding a device in school or construction zones, according to the outlet.
Tinted windows are now also under stricter regulation, with the legal limit for front side windows lowered from 40 percent to just 25 percent light transmission - bringing Louisiana in line with neighboring Texas and Arkansas.
Motorists are still required to pass proper inspections and display valid decals - or risk facing fines between $150 and $350.
Arguably, the most significant update is the expansion of the state's 'no pay, no play' insurance law, as reported by The Mirror.
Drivers involved in a crash without insurance - whether they are at fault or not - are now barred from collecting up to $100,000 in damages.
The law's purpose is clear: to crack down on uninsured drivers with harsh penalties designed to keep them off the roads.
Louisiana has also strengthened hit-and-run penalties by imposing mandatory minimum sentences to hold offenders accountable and safeguard victims.
The strict new laws follow similar recent legislation introduced elsewhere in the US aimed specifically at young drivers.
Starting August 1, Florida began enforcing new driver's education requirements for everyone aged 15 and older.
The new law requires learners to complete a 50-hour driver education and traffic safety course, approved by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles).
This law is added to the current requirement of passing a Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE) course - a mandatory program for first-time drivers in Florida.
Developed by the Florida Department of Education, the Statute is designed to educate drivers on traffic laws and reinforce safe driving and decision-making behaviors.
The goal of this new policy is to reduce the amount of preventable crashes and fatalities among teen drivers.
The Sunshine State has had high numbers in fatalities from crashes involving teenage drivers.
Over one million crashes involved teenage drivers back in 2020, including 4,405 fatalities and 319,335 serious injuries.
The new rule was signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis back in May after it unanimously passed in the state's House and Senate.
Florida residents must adhere to several terms to snag a learner's permit, which is necessary for a driver's license.
Hopeful drivers must be 15 to enroll in courses, and anyone under the age of 18 must have a signed parental consent form. They must provide proof of TLSAE course completion, a program that usually takes four hours to finish.
Once they pass a vision and hearing test conducted in a service center, the applicant must pass a Class E knowledge exam.
After meeting the permit requirements, the driver must hold their permit for at least one year or reach the age of 18. The drivers can then take their driver's test once the requirements are met in an insured vehicle that passes inspection.
Licensed 16-year-old drivers will only be allowed to drive between 6:00 am and 11:00 pm, which will change to 5:00 am and 1:00 am once they turn 17.
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