Art. 211. Summons by officer instead of arrest and booking

A.(1) When it is lawful for a peace officer to arrest a person without a warrant for a misdemeanor, or for a felony charge of theft or illegal possession of stolen things when the thing of value is five hundred dollars or more but less than one thousand dollars, he may issue a written summons instead of making an arrest if all of the following exist:

(a) The officer has reasonable grounds to believe that the person will appear upon summons.

(b) The officer has no reasonable grounds to believe that the person will cause injury to himself or another or damage to property or will continue in the same or a similar offense unless immediately arrested and booked.

(c) There is no necessity to book the person to comply with routine identification procedures.

(d) If an officer issues a summons for a felony described in this Paragraph, the officer issuing the summons has ascertained that the person has no prior criminal convictions.

(2) In any case in which a summons has been issued, a warrant of arrest may later be issued in its place.

B.(1) When a peace officer has reasonable grounds to believe a person has committed the offense of issuing worthless checks as defined by R.S. 14:71, he may issue a written summons instead of making an arrest if all of the following exist:

(a) He has reasonable grounds to believe that the person will appear upon summons.

(b) He has no reasonable grounds to believe that the person will cause injury to himself or another or damage to property unless immediately arrested.

(2) In any case in which a summons has been issued, a warrant of arrest may later be issued in its place.

C.(1) When a peace officer has reasonable grounds to believe a person has committed an offense of driving without a valid driver's license in his possession, the officer shall make every practical attempt based on identifying information provided by the person to confirm that the person has been issued a valid driver's license. If the officer determines that the person has been issued a valid driver's license which is not under revocation, suspension, or cancellation, but that the license is not in his possession, the officer shall issue a written summons to the offender in accordance with law, commanding him to appear and answer the charge.

(2) The provisions of this Article shall in no way limit a peace officer from issuing a citation for operating a motor vehicle without physical possession of a valid driver's license.

Amended by Acts 1982, No. 180, §1; Acts 1995, No. 769, §1; Acts 2006, No. 143, §2; Acts 2011, No. 403, §1.