EQUIPMENT

New Orleans City Code ch. 154, art. X

in effect

New Orleans City Code § 154-1251 General requirements.

Sec. 154-1251. - General requirements. (a) Every vehicle operated in this parish shall comply with all equipment requirements of state law and involving vehicles traveling on state highways, and particularly requirements of Title 32, known as the Louisiana Highway Regulatory Act, relative to driver responsibility for maintaining on the vehicle adequate headlights, backup lights, stop lights, braking equipment, taillamps, reflectors, electric turn signals, horns, windshield wipers, mirrors, safety glass, tires, fuel tank caps, fenders, mud guards, and all other equipment required by state law at the time and in the manner provided for by such statutes, in addition to requirements now imposed by this chapter. (b) All trucks, tractors, or trailers used to haul oversized vehicles and overlength loads between dusk and dawn are to be equipped with portable lights and barricades. These lights are to be red or amber in color and are to be placed on the truck, tractor, or trailer, or on the overlength load, in a position which will enable it to be seen from any direction. They should also be equipped with portable barricades containing fixtures for the attachment of portable lights. These lights or barricades are to be used in case of a breakdown or in time of trouble. (c) Every school bus operated in the parish shall be equipped with an exterior convex mirror at least 7½ inches in diameter mounted on either the left or right front fender in such a manner that the seated driver may observe, through its use, areas to the immediate front and side of the bus when direct observation is not possible. (d) Should there be any conflict between the requirements of state law and the equipment standards set forth in this chapter, state law will govern. (Code 1956, § 38-166)

New Orleans City Code § 154-1252 Trailers and towed vehicles.

Sec. 154-1252. - Trailers and towed vehicles. (a) When one vehicle is towed by another, the drawbar or other connection shall be of sufficient strength to pull all weight towed thereby, and such drawbar or such connection shall not exceed 15 feet from one vehicle to the other except the connection between any two vehicles transporting poles, pipes, machinery, or other objects of structure or nature which cannot be readily dismembered. (b) When one vehicle is towed by another and the connection between them consists of a chain, rope or cable, there shall be displayed upon such connection a red flag or cloth not less than 12 inches square; from sunset to sunrise, this signal shall be a red light, plainly visible under ordinary atmospheric conditions for a distance of at least 500 feet. (Code 1956, § 38-171)

New Orleans City Code § 154-1253 Unauthorized vehicle equipment prohibited.

Sec. 154-1253. - Unauthorized vehicle equipment prohibited. (a) No person shall operate any vehicle in the parish which shall display, have attached to it, or use any equipment prohibited by state law and particularly the Louisiana Highway Regulatory Act. (b) It shall be a violation for any vehicle, except authorized emergency vehicles, to display a blinking red light, visible from the front of the vehicle, while such vehicle is in operation. (c) It shall be a violation for any vehicle, except authorized vehicles of the New Orleans Police Department and Department of Public Works vehicles operating under the direction of the New Orleans Police Department to display a blinking blue light, visible from the front of the vehicle, while such vehicle is in operation. (Code 1956, § 38-167; M.C.S., Ord. No. 27621, § 1, 12-14-17)

New Orleans City Code § 154-1254 Headlight requirements.

Sec. 154-1254. - Headlight requirements. Every vehicle upon a street or highway within this city at any time between sunset and sunrise and at any other time when, due to insufficient light or unfavorable atmospheric conditions, persons and vehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of 500 feet ahead shall display lighted lamps and illuminating devices as required by state law and this chapter for the different classes of vehicles regulated by state law, subject to exception with respect to parked vehicles. (Code 1956, § 38-165)

New Orleans City Code § 154-1255 Child passenger restraint system.

Sec. 154-1255. - Child passenger restraint system. (a) Any driver who transports a child or children under the age of five years in a motor vehicle which is equipped with safety belts at the time of manufacture or assembly or is currently equipped with safety belts shall have the child properly secured in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions in a child passenger restraint system which meets the applicable federal motor vehicles safety standards in effect on the effective date of the ordinance from which this section was derived, except as provided in subsections (c), (d) and (e) of this section. (b) The terms "motor vehicles" as used in this section shall not mean the following: bicycles; farm tractor; motorcycle or motor-driven cycle; truck of manufacturer's rating carrying capacity of over 2,000 pounds; ambulance or other emergency vehicle; school bus as defined in R.S. 32:1(62)(a) and (b); church bus, private bus or recreational vehicle which has a passenger capacity of over ten persons; or commercial truck, van or taxi. (c) If such child is three to five years of age, securing the child in a lap belt or safety belt in a rear seat shall be sufficient to meet the requirements of this section. If there are no rear seats, a child passenger restraint system shall be used. (d) Where the number of children under the age of five in the motor vehicle exceeds the number of child passenger restraint systems and seat belts available in the motor vehicle, the unrestrained children shall be seated in a rear seat. (e) The provisions of this section shall not apply when one of the following conditions exists: (1) The motor vehicle is being used as an ambulance or other emergency vehicle. (2) An emergency exists which threatens the life of any person operating a motor vehicle to whom this section otherwise would apply or the life of any child who otherwise would be required to be restrained under this section. (3) Any child who would otherwise be required to be restrained under this section who is physically unable because of medical reasons to use a child passenger safety system or safety belt. (f) In no event shall failure to wear a child passenger safety seat system be considered as comparative negligence, nor shall such failure be admissible as evidence in the trail of any civil action with regard to negligence, nor shall such failure be considered a moving violation. (g) Any operator of a motor vehicle stopped for a violation of this section and against whom enforcement action has been taken shall not be guilty of a subsequent violation of this section until 24 hours have elapsed from the date and time of the violation as indicated on the traffic ticket. (Code 1956, § 38-162.3)

New Orleans City Code § 154-1256 Penalties.

Sec. 154-1256. - Penalties. All vehicles registered in the parish shall be inspected at 12-month intervals, and any vehicle presented for inspection with an inspection certificate which had been issued in excess of three months previously shall be delinquent and subject to a delinquency fee according to the following schedule: Months | Fees From 1.1 to 3 months | $ 2.00 From 3.1 to 6 months | 4.00 From 6.1 to 9 months | 6.00 From 9.1 to 12 months | 8.00 From 12 and over | 10.00 (Code 1956, § 38-161.6)

Source: City of New Orleans, Code of Ordinances and Home Rule Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/la/new_orleans/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICO_CH154TRVE_ARTXEQFetched: 10/28/2026