§213. Riding or hauling on levees prohibited

            A. No person shall ride, drive, or haul upon the public levees or integrated coastal protection projects or their rights-of-way except where, in the judgment of the levee commissioners of a district and the Department of Transportation and Development, or, for levees or integrated coastal protection projects in the coastal area as defined in R.S. 49:214.2, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, ample provision has been made to guard against any damage to which the levees or integrated coastal protection projects may thereby be exposed from wear, tear, and abuse. Each levee district shall publish guidance, erect signage, and require special permits as they deem appropriate to allow them to make provisions for limited riding, driving, or hauling.

            B. Each governing authority is authorized to set the penalty for violation of this Section, provided that the penalty shall not exceed the penalty for criminal trespass, as defined in R.S. 14:63, and the governing authority may seek injunctive relief and collect all expenses incurred as a result of the violation.

            C. This Section shall not be construed to restrict the proper officers of the state or of any levee district or parish while in the performance of duty in inspecting, guarding, or repairing the levees or integrated coastal protection projects.

            D. Nothing in this Section shall interfere with the crossing over any public levees, at ramps or inclines established under plans and specifications of the Department of Transportation and Development, or, for levees or integrated coastal protection projects in the coastal area as defined in R.S. 49:214.2, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority. Nothing in this Section shall interfere with the ability of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority or the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board to carry out its responsibilities as the local sponsor for all integrated coastal protection projects, in its jurisdiction, pursuant to R.S. 49:214.1(F).

            Acts 2010, No. 734, §3; Acts 2011, No. 371, §1; Acts 2012, No. 604, §2, eff. June 7, 2012; Acts 2016, No. 430, §4.