Could a Louisiana legislator put an official-looking decal or vanity plate on a privately owned car?

Plain-English summary

A Louisiana representative asked whether a privately owned vehicle could carry decals, unofficial or vanity license plates, or other insignia showing that a legislator or public officer operated it. The attorney general's office said in 2000 that it found no state-law prohibition on those items on a private car.

The office drew a funding limit: public money could not be used to buy items for the private vehicle. It also directed attention to the state's false-impersonation law in connection with use of such vehicles.

Currency note

This opinion was issued in 2000. Subsequent statutory amendments, court decisions, or later AG opinions may have changed the analysis. Treat this page as historical context, not current legal advice. Verify current law before relying on any specific rule, deadline, or remedy mentioned here.

Legislators and other public officers at the time

The opinion found no state-law prohibition on the described insignia on a privately owned vehicle. Its answer did not authorize the use of public funds to buy the items.

Government finance staff at the time

The opinion stated that public funds could not purchase decals, unofficial plates, or other identifying items to be placed on an official's private car.

Other vehicle users at the time

The office cautioned that the false-impersonation prohibition remained relevant to how such a vehicle was used. It did not apply that law to a specific incident.

Common questions

Q: Could a legislator put a decal or unofficial plate identifying the office on a private car?
A: The 2000 opinion found no state-law prohibition on the described insignia on a privately owned vehicle.

Q: Could a government office pay for those items?
A: No. The opinion said public funds could not be used to buy them for a private car.

Q: Did the opinion address false impersonation?
A: It pointed to LSA-R.S. 14:112 and cautioned about false impersonation in the use of such vehicles, without deciding a specific violation.

Background and statutory framework

The office answered a narrow question about identifying insignia on private vehicles. It reported no state-law bar to the items described, imposed a public-funding limit, and cited LSA-R.S. 14:112 on false impersonation.

Citations and references

• LSA-R.S. 14:112 (false impersonation provision cited by the office)

Source

• Landing page: https://www.ag.state.la.us/Opinions
• Original PDF: https://www.ag.state.la.us/Opinion/Download/00-0259

Original opinion text

Best-effort transcription from a scanned PDF. Minor errors may remain; the linked PDF is authoritative.

August 3, 2000
OPINION NUMBER 00-259

Honorable Jacquelyn Brechtel Clarkson
State Representative, District 102
Westpark One, One Seine Court, Suite 102
New Orleans, LA 70114

Dear Representative Clarkson:

You have asked for an Attorney General’s opinion as to whether private vehicles may bear “decals, unofficial or vanity license plates, or other insignia which indicate that the vehicle is being operated by a legislator or other public officer.”

We find no prohibitions in state law regarding the actions described as they relate to private vehicles. However, please note that public funds may not be used to purchase these items to be placed on private cars.

Also, please keep in mind the prohibitions relative to false impersonation in the use of these vehicles by any individual. LSA-R.S. 14:112.

I trust this sufficiently address your concerns. Please contact this office should you require further assistance at (225) 342-7013.

Yours very truly,

RICHARD P. IEYOUB
ATTORNEY GENERAL

BY: _______
CARLOS M. FINALET, III
ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL

RPI:CMF:gbl

Page 2

OPINION NUMBER 00-259

70 – Control and Regulations
LSA-R.S. 14:112

There are no prohibitions in state law regarding private vehicles bearing decals, unofficial or vanity license plates, or other insignia which indicate that the vehicle is being operated by a legislator or other public officer. Public funds may not be used to purchase these items to be placed on private cars.

Honorable Jacquelyn Brechtel Clarkson
Date Received:
State Representative, District 102
Westpark One, One Seine Court, Suite 102
Date Released: August 3, 2000
New Orleans, LA 70114
Carlos M. Finalet, III
Assistant Attorney General