'DRUG OFFENDER' COULD BE ADDED TO LICENSES

BATON ROUGE - Second-conviction felony drug dealers should have that
noted on their driver's licenses, a House committee said Tuesday.

The House Transportation, Highways and Public Works Committee
unanimously approved House Bill 139 by Rep. Rickey Hardy,
D-Lafayette, after increasing the fee assessed on offenders from $10
to $25 to cover the cost of issuing a special license with "DRUG
OFFENDER" in bright orange on the bottom. Similar licenses with "SEX
OFFENDER" already are issued to people convicted of certain sex crimes.

Hardy said the main goal of his legislation is to "give the officer
who would stop that person a heads-up who he's dealing with, to let
him know that person has been involved in criminal activity and might
be armed."

The legislation was supported by state police Maj. Dewayne White.

"When they hand that license, a caution light is going to come on" in
a law enforcement officer's mind, White said. "If a drug offender
doesn't have it, his caution light may come on too late."

Rep. Sam Jones, D-Franklin, who got the committee to increase the fee
so it covers the license cost, told Hardy "I wouldn't mind amending
the bill to paint their cars white with pink polka dots."

Rep. Barbara Norton, D-Shreveport, raised the only objection.

"If that person has done his time in prison, why put it on the
driver's license?" she asked.

"Sometimes we go a little bit too far. I think this is wrong. It is
not the American way. It's not going to stop crime."

When Committee Vice Chairman Hollis Downs, R-Ruston, called for a
vote, Norton did not object.

HB139 now goes to the House floor for debate.