Requires toll signage, toll dispute procedures, and toll customer service centers at all toll facilities within a certain radius

House Bill 896 amends Louisiana Revised Statutes 48:250.4.1 to establish comprehensive requirements governing toll facility operations, signage, dispute procedures, and customer service. The bill modifies the administrative fee structure by reducing the per-violation fee from twenty-five dollars to a maximum of six dollars, while capping total administrative fees at forty-eight dollars per person in any twelve-month period. It creates four new statutory definitions including "toll-by-plate," "toll collection facility," "toll customer service center," and "vehicle class." The legislation mandates that the Department of Transportation and Development or its private operating contractors erect toll signage displaying real-time toll prices categorized by vehicle class, toll tag rates, and toll-by-plate rates for both parish residents and nonresidents. Additionally, the bill establishes detailed procedures for disputing toll charges, allowing vehicle owners to submit declarations of dispute based on specified grounds including proof that they were not the registered owner at violation time, evidence of prior payment through toll tag or cash, vehicle absence at the facility, or other good cause.

The practical effects of this legislation extend to multiple stakeholder groups. Vehicle owners facing toll charges gain substantive protections through the reduced administrative fee cap and structured dispute resolution procedures, including a right to request review by the toll authority if the authorized agent denies their dispute. Rental and leasing companies face new administrative obligations when transferring responsibility for violations to lessees or renters, requiring submission of signed agreements and certifications within established timeframes. The Department of Transportation and Development and private toll operating entities must establish toll customer service centers within a five-mile radius of every operational toll facility, with the entity receiving toll revenue and credits bearing the construction, operation, and maintenance costs. Vehicle owners employed by federal, state, or parish entities or law enforcement agencies, along with others specified in Subsection M, receive exemptions from toll passage fees and related administrative charges.

This legislation operates within the existing statutory framework of R.S. 48:250.4.1, which previously authorized the Department of Transportation and Development to exercise police powers over state-owned toll facilities and to delegate those powers to private entities. The bill preserves the prima facie responsibility doctrine established in present law, which presumes the registered owner liable for unpaid tolls unless they prove the vehicle was stolen and reported to law enforcement within specified timeframes. The administrative fee modifications align with Due Process principles by capping penalties and establishing clear procedures for challenging assessed charges. The toll signage requirement operates as a consumer protection mechanism, ensuring drivers receive adequate notice of charges and pricing structures before incurring toll obligations. The customer service center mandate creates enforceable accessibility standards for toll payers seeking account assistance or lodging complaints, establishing minimum service infrastructure across Louisiana's tolling network. The statutory scheme remains subject to the Administrative Procedure Act as specified in the bill's procedural provisions.