§1322. Credit card, charge card, and debit card transactions with the Department of Public Safety and Corrections; procedures for acceptance; administrative action

A. The Department of Public Safety and Corrections, public safety services, or any authorized agent of the department, is authorized to accept credit cards, charge cards, or debit cards for the payment of fees, fines, taxes, penalties, and interest. The department may enter into agreements with issuing companies and banks as are necessary to implement the use of these cards.

B. The department may charge a convenience fee on any transaction whereby a customer requests payment by credit card, charge card, or debit card for payment through telephone, in person, by regular mail, or via the Internet to conduct business with the department. Prior to charging the convenience fee, the total amount of the fee shall be disclosed to the customer. The customer shall have the right to decline payment of the fee and to submit payment for his transaction using another tender type. The convenience fee may be a uniform dollar amount, a percentage of the transaction, or a tiered amount based on the transaction amount.

C.(1) Prior to accepting the card as payment from a customer who appears in person at the department, the department shall:

(a) Require the presentation of the card.

(b) Verify that the card has not expired and obtain the proper authorization for use of said card.

(c) Verify that the signature on the receipt corresponds to the signature on the signature panel on the card.

(d) Verify that the card has not been voided or revoked, or placed on a list by the company or bank issuing the card which would require that the transaction be precleared by the issuer. This verification may be accomplished by telephoning the issuing company or bank or by using any device or instrument that can access information encoded on the card and verify such encoded information through electronic or digital means.

(2) The department may also accept the card by utilizing electronic commerce which shall include but not be limited to the use of the Internet and conversant phone systems. Prior to accepting the card as payment when utilizing electronic commerce, the department shall:

(a) Verify that the card has not expired.

(b) Verify that the card has not been voided or revoked, or placed on a list by the company or bank issuing the card which would require that the transaction be precleared by the issuer. This verification may be accomplished by telephoning the issuing company or bank or by using any device or instrument that can access keyed information and verify such keyed information through electronic or digital means.

D. The department may determine that only specific programs or specific offices or locations will accept credit cards, charge cards, or debit cards as payment for fees, fines, taxes, penalties, and interest.

E. The department shall suspend any license, permit, license plate, appointment, authorization, or motor vehicle registration issued or renewed pursuant to a payment made by a credit card, charge card, or debit card, if the credit, charge, or debit is refused, denied, dishonored, or reversed by the issuing company or bank. Drivers' licenses shall be suspended and reinstated in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 32:414. Any such license, permit, license plate, appointment, authorization, or motor vehicle registration shall remain suspended until such time as the card payment which was refused, denied, dishonored, or reversed is made good by the person issued the license, permit, license plate, appointment, authorization, or motor vehicle registration and the person pays any reinstatement fee due to the department.

F. The department shall recall and revoke any certificate of title for a motor vehicle issued pursuant to a payment made by a credit card, charge card, or debit card if the credit, charge, or debit is refused, denied, dishonored, or reversed by the issuing company or bank.

G. The notice of suspension or revocation issued pursuant to this Subsection shall inform the person that his license, permit, license plate, appointment, authorization, or motor vehicle registration is being suspended, or certificate of title is being revoked, because the payment with the credit card, charge card, or debit card was refused, denied, dishonored, or reversed by the issuing company or bank. The notice shall be sent by certified mail. The person shall have thirty days from the date the notice of suspension or revocation was mailed to submit a written request for an administrative hearing. If a timely request for an administrative hearing is received, the hearing shall be scheduled no later than ninety days from the date the request for a hearing was received by the department. The department records of the transaction including any notice from the issuing company or bank shall be prima facie proof of the violation. Any petition for a judicial review of the administrative hearing shall be in the same manner and under the same conditions as provided in R.S. 32:414.

H. The department may promulgate rules and regulations in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act as are necessary to prohibit a person who has repeatedly submitted a credit card, charge card, or debit card for payment which was refused, denied, dishonored, or reversed by the issuing company or bank from submitting a credit card, charge card, or debit card for payment for a period of three years.

Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 44, §1; Acts 2009, No. 229, §1, eff. June 30, 2009; Acts 2015, No. 414, §2.