BATON ROUGE — Louisiana lawmakers took the first step toward eliminating the state's vehicle inspection sticker program Monday during a House Transportation Committee meeting.
A bill filed by Rep. Larry Bagley, R-Stonewall, to replace the traditional sticker with a QR code advanced unanimously from the committee. Bagley has been working to eliminate inspection stickers since 2017, having failed to pass the bill seven times.
The measure drew broader support this session, including backing from Gov. Jeff Landry.
"The traditional vehicle inspection sticker process is annoying, it's inconvenient, it serves little value to the safety of our roads," Landry said in remarks delivered on the first day of the legislative session.
Under the proposal, vehicle owners would no longer go through the inspection process but would instead receive a QR code by mail when obtaining license plates and registration renewals. The QR code would cost $6 a year, compared to $10 a year for a traditional inspection sticker.
During committee debate, some members raised concerns about how the QR code system would work in practice, particularly the time it would take officers to pull up a driver's information during a traffic stop.
"Everybody is not going to sit and wait, as they should, on law enforcement to get it figured out," said Rep. Joy Walters, D-Caddo. "That's really the only problem I have with this bill in its current form, and I know that you all are going to be working to hash things out. I have faith in that and no doubt."
Louisiana's inspection program was established decades ago, before modern vehicles had advanced safety systems and onboard diagnostic technology. Today's vehicles can monitor engine performance, emissions systems, and other functions, alerting drivers with warning lights when issues need attention.
The Transportation Committee also advanced a bill to rename a portion of Louisiana Highway 15 in Monroe, between South Second Street and U.S. 165, as the President Barack Obama Road. Rep. Patricia Moore, D-Monroe, said the designation would have her constituents "dancing in the streets" the way they did when Obama was first elected in 2008.
The bill follows a separate measure that received full House approval to name a new Mississippi River bridge the President Donald J. Trump Expressway. That bill was filed by Rep. Michael Echols, R-Monroe, who is also a candidate in the 5th Congressional District race. Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser expressed reservations about the naming during an appearance on "Talk Louisiana" with Jim Engster.
"Usually, after you're out of office, people name things after you because of the good you did," Nungesser said. "But I don't think it's right that we're changing the Kennedy name to the Trump-Kennedy Center or the bridge in Baton Rouge."
