BILL CALLS FOR SPECIAL LICENSES, PLATES FOR DRUG DEALERS

BATON ROUGE - If drug dealers want to stay in business after being
arrested more than once, they should have to let the world know what
they are, says a Lafayette lawmaker who says he's tired of seeing drug
deals and their effects in his neighborhood.

Rep. Rickey Hardy, D-Lafayette, has pre-filed HB11, that seeks to
require second-offense drug dealers to carry special driver's licenses
and put brightly colored license plates on their cars.

I'm pushing for it to be bright orange," said Hardy, who envisions
that if dealers know they could face such a stigma, they might get out
of the trade.

Drugs destroy communities and destroy families," he said. "They lead
to rape, murder, burglaries, drive-by shootings and the list goes on
and on. We can no longer defend the drug dealers. We need to do
something about them."

Hardy said the intent of his bill is "to embarrass them. If they don't
want to be upstanding citizens, make them stand out. They want a badge
of honor? Here it is."

On top of criminal penalties for second offense distribution of
controlled substances, Hardy's bill says that following a second or
subsequent felony conviction on or after Aug. 15, 2009, the offender
shall apply for a special license plate with "Controlled Substances
Conviction" written on it in a distinct color.

Payment of an extra $10 fee for administration costs plus $25 for the
plate is required.

License plates are to remain on the offender's vehicle for eight
years. The bill also requires a 365-day suspension of driving
privileges of an offender who fails to comply with the requirements of
the proposed law.

Another section of the proposed law requires anyone convicted of a
second or subsequent felony violation of the CDS law after Aug. 15,
2009, to acquire a driver's license or special identification card
that includes the words "controlled substances offender" printed in
orange. The driver's license must be valid for four years.

A judge can apply the penalty for a first conviction.

People will know who is a drug dealer," Hardy said. "I don't believe
they will be looking at this as free advertising."

He said he expects legislators to argue that requiring a distinctive
license plate on a car could unfairly punish a dealer's wife who has
to also drive the car. The same argument was used against requiring a
sex offender license plate.

She's reaping the profit from the dealing," Hardy said. "She should
have to show it, too."

Police officers will know who they're dealing with if they pull over a
car with a drug dealer plate on it, he said, which will put them on
alert for possible trouble.

Hardy said he's not worried about embarrassing anyone because "what's
embarrassing is seeing the people on the streets with the
heebie-jeebies and the crack heads. I witness that every day. I don't
live in a gated community. I live in the real world."