Governor Bobby Jindal on Thursday announced his new legislative priorities for cracking down on drunk drivers in the upcoming legislative session.

Jindal highlighted five bills he will pursue in the upcoming session that strengthen drunk driving laws in Louisiana. All five initiatives have been approved by the Governor’s Homicide DWI-Vehicular Homicide Task Force.

An outline of the initiatives that Governor Jindal announced today in Baton Rouge is included below:

1. Suspend An Offender’s Driver’s License For Two Years After The Conviction Of Third Degree Feticide – An Accident Resulting In The Death Of An Unborn Child

Current law provides a fine of at least $2,000 and imprisonment of up to 5 years. However, Governor Jindal noted that individuals rarely get up to this amount of time, if they serve time at all, which means there is nothing in the law today to prohibit the full restoration of driving privileges, even when an unborn life is taken.

This bill is authored by Rep. Jonathan Perry.

2. Require A Code Be Placed On Driver’s Licenses Of Individuals Who Are Required To Have An Ignition Interlock Device Installed On Their Vehicle As A Condition Of Reinstating Their Driver’s License

Currently, when law enforcement officials pull a driver over for any type of minor traffic violation, they have no way of knowing that an interlock device is required, unless they run the license for a full check through the OMV system. This means drivers with multiple offense records could also pass by road check points in a vehicle that is not theirs without being detected. Reinstated licenses do not currently indicate any restrictions – like they do for hardship licenses.

This bill will require a code be places on an offender’s reinstated license that can alert law enforcement that the driver should be driving with an interlock device.

This bill is authored by Rep. Jonathan Perry.

3. Premature Removal Of An Interlock Device Or An Offender’s Failure To Renew An Interlock Contract Before The End Of Their Requirement To Have The Device Will Result In License Suspension

This bill will require that the OMV suspend a driver’s license upon notice that the driver has prematurely removed their interlock device or allowed the contract to prematurely expire. The legislation will also require the OMV to mail notices to drivers that their license has been suspended until the department receives sufficient proof that their ignition interlock device was reinstalled.

This bill is authored by Rep. Walt Leger.

4. Require School Bus Drivers To Report Their DUI-Related Arrests Within 24 Hours Of Receipt Or Prior To Their Next Shift - Whichever Time Is Shorter

This bill is authored by Rep. Rickey Hardy.

5. Restructure The Way That Proceeds From The Seizure And Sale Of Vehicles For 3rd And 4th DWI Offenses Are Distributed

Currently, after court and other costs are paid, all proceeds from these sales go to the Council on Automobile Insurance Rates and Enforcement (CAIRE) within the Department of Insurance for use in studying other ways to reduce drunk driving and insurance rates. This legislation will still dedicate 20 percent to CAIRE – and direct the remaining funds to law enforcement and agencies that shoulder the expense enforcing these driving-related crimes.