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Louisiana
State Police
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 In 1922, the Louisiana Highway Commission was created and given the power to appoint inspectors to enforce laws relating to the highways. The Commission operated with the state divided into ten districts; sixteen officers patrolled the entire state. During the two year period from 1922 to 1924, 114 serious accidents and 18,918 violations of motor vehicle laws were reported. In 1932 the State Highway Patrol was given the authority to carry firearms. On July 28, 1936, the two divisions of law enforcement were combined to form a modern, well equipped, and well-trained force known as the Louisiana Department of State Police. In 1942, the Louisiana Legislature abolished the Department of State Police and made it a division of the newly created Department of Public Safety. The LSP accepted new responsibilities in 1946 when the Drivers License Law was enacted requiring every driver to hold a license for operating a motor vehicle. Prior to this time, only the operators of commercial vehicles, trucks, and buses were required to be licensed. In 1961 the State Legislature passed a new law requiring the inspection of all motor vehicles. Then in 1962, the Legislature enacted a new highway code which established a maximum speed of 65 miles per hour on multilane highways and 60 miles per hour on other highways. Together, these were considered important steps toward improving highway safety. 1972 saw a reorganization of the LSP by adding three regional offices to supervise the eleven troop districts, and in 1984, the LSP had a head count of 960 troopers. Continued budget cuts in 1988 resulted in the closure of Troop H in Leesville and Troop K in Opelousas and the consolidation of the State Police structure into three regional commands with three troops in each region. Also, the Criminal Investigation Bureau was reorganized and reduced in size, severely affecting investigations. The LSP's manpower dipped to 650 troopers patrolling the state's highways. A long-term goal was achieved on November 22, 2003 when the department received national accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). Currently, the LSP is a force of 1022 men and women responsible for all elements of criminal and highway safety interdiction in the Bayou State. |
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Louisiana State Flag
 The design consists of the pelican group from the state seal, in white and gold, and a white ribbon bearing the state motto, "Union, Justice, and Confidence", on a field of a solid blue. |
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 1936-1940 issue- Oldest LSP car type (Approx. 5.5"x13.5") |
We are looking for a picture showing |
 1940-Circa 1942 issue- (Approx. 5.5"x13.5") "Double arrow version" or "Second" as it is known. The reason for the presence of these arrows is an interesting and humorous one. As can be seen by the previous LSP plate (1936-1940), the "LA" for Louisiana is stacked to the left of the words: STATE POLICE. Some witty observers traveling through French Cajun country began making jokes that even the law enforcement in Louisiana calls itself "La State Police". These "jokes" struck the ire of the new LSP Superintendent, and with good Ol' Southern "gumption", he ordered the old plates pulled and introduced these new replacement plates with LOUISIANA spelled out in full with two pointy arrows aimed inward at the complete state name. The jokes stopped. |
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 Late 40's - Early 50's Louisiana over Dept. of Public Safety over Div of over State Police over Troop & Troop letter followed by car # stacked vertically on the right side Picture courtesy of the Louisiana State Police |
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 Circa 1951/52 issue. There is no solid information whatsoever about this issue short of this period photograph. No known examples of this plate type have been discovered as of yet. This would appropriately be called a "missing link", so any information or clearer photo would be tremendously appreciated! |
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 Circa 1954-1956 issue: B= New Orleans Troop. Embossed steel. Painted border. (Approx. 5.25"x11.75"). Age surmised by plate dimension, layout and in particular, the die used for LOUISIANA at top of plate as it is identical in those aspects to the 1954 "Yams" Louisiana license plates. Picture courtesy of Bill Ceravola |
We are looking for a picture showing
this type plate on duty.... Can you help us? |
 Circa 1956- Circa 1970 issue- M= (Des) Allemands Troop (No longer in existence) The state name along the top of the plate, bears the same die type as used on Louisiana car plates from 1955 until 1965. |
 Picture courtesy of the Louisiana State Police |
 Circa 1956- Circa 1970 issue- HQ=Headquarters Troop The state name along the top of the plate. Smaller font used for state name may have come closer to the latter part of the issuance for this type. Picture courtesy of Bill Ceravola |
We are looking for a picture showing
this type plate on duty.... Can you help us? |
 Circa 1970-1978 issue- Baton Rouge Troop Commander |
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 Circa 1970-1978 issue- B= New Orleans Troop. Dies for state name are "newer" and similar to circa 1978 dies shown below. Issuance time for these plates is sketchy. Any confirmed information is wanted and welcome! |
 Picture courtesy of Jay Weinstein |
 Circa 1978- ? issue- C= Grey ( renamed Houma) Troop . Issuance time frames for these plates is sketchy. Any confirmed information is wanted and welcome! |
We are looking for a picture showing
this type plate on duty.... Can you help us? |
 Circa 1978- ? issue- Aggressive Criminal Enforcement award plate. The Louisiana State Police ACE award is patterned after the World War II fighter pilot ACE award and is presented to those troopers who recover at least 5 stolen cars with arrest within a period of one year. This plate in particular has a date of 1982 inscribed onto the back of it. |
 Picture courtesy of Bill Ceravola Car owned by Dwayne Larriviere |
 Circa 1977-unknown issue- Known as "The ACE of ACES". The Blue Max distinction was awarded each year, to the LSP trooper who recovered the most stolen motor vehicles and effected the arrest of the perpetrators. This plate originally belonged to LSP Trooper Walter Hill Clement IV. It is believed that a minimum of 25 recoveries/arrests were needed for the Blue Max award. RARE!! Picture courtesy of Bill Ceravola |
 Click on the picture to read the great story behind this plate and Trooper Clement |
 Picture courtesy of Bill Ceravola |
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 Late 1970's-1980's? issue- L= Covington Troop. Although this plate looks similar to the circa 1978 plate, it has a brighter reflective sheeting, uses a dash separator and the dies for the state name are longer and flatter such as the die type used from 1966 until 1973 on other Louisiana license plates. Any confirmed information is wanted and welcome! |
 Picture courtesy of Bill Ceravola Car owned by Dwayne Larriviere |
 1970's? issue- HQ=Headquarters. Although this plate looks similar to the circa 1978 plate, it uses a dash separator and the dies for the state name are longer and flatter such as the die type used from 1966 until 1973 on other Louisiana license plates. Any confirmed information is wanted and welcome! Plate courtesy of the Robert Ward Collection |
We are looking for a picture showing
this type plate on duty.... Can you help us? |
 The Louisiana State Police ACE award is patterned after the World War II fighter pilot ACE award and is presented to those troopers who recover at least 5 stolen cars with arrest within a period of one year. Although this plate looks similar to the circa 1978 plate, it has a brighter reflective sheeting, and the dies for the state name are longer and flatter such as the die type used from 1966 until 1973 on other Louisiana license plates. Any confirmed information is wanted and welcome! |
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 Date unknown but believed to be early prototype for ACE plate before embossed style. Obtained at state HQ. Courtesy of the Bob Bruce Collection |
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 1989-1993 issue- C= Houma Troop. Known as the "USA base" due to artistic font for state name. Most of these plates have circular holograms running vertically down the center of the sheeting with the state shape and "89" inside. Although the base type ran in Louisiana until 1993, LSP cars even years later were still sporting these 1989 plates on duty. |
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 1989-1993 issue- C= Houma Troop. Same as previous issue, only this one manufactured with a dash separator. |
 Picture courtesy of Bill Ceravola |
 1989-1993- Aggressive Criminal Enforcement award plate. The Louisiana State Police ACE award is patterned after the World War II fighter pilot ACE award and is presented to those troopers who recover at least 5 stolen cars with arrest within a period of one year. |
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 1989-1993 issue- Headquarters Baton Rouge. Senior ranking officer. |
We are looking for a picture showing
this type plate on duty.... Can you help us? |
 1989-1993 issue- Headquarters Baton Rouge. This is struck without the dash seperator. Picture courtesy Paolo Velchi |
 Photo Courtesy of Monty McCord |
 1989-1993 issue- Department of Public Safety- used by Motor Carrier Safety Unit |
We are looking for a picture showing
this type plate on duty.... Can you help us? |
 1989-1993- Highway Safety Commission. (No pelican emblems). Although they do not possess State Police powers, the HSC works closely with the LSP to further its mission to the development and implementation of comprehensive strategies aimed at saving lives and preventing injuries on Louisiana's highways. |
 Picture courtesy of Bill Ceravola |
 1994-2011 B=New Orleans Troop car 40. "Lipstick" script silkscreened and STATE POLICE embossed. |
 Picture courtesy of Bill Ceravola |
 1994-2011 TS = Motor Carrier Safety Unit Picture courtesy of Bill Ceravola |
 Picture courtesy of Bill Ceravola |
 1994-2011 MP= Motor Pool Picture courtesy of Bill Ceravola |
 Picture courtesy of Bill Ceravola |
 1994-2011 HM= Haz Mat Picture courtesy of Bill Ceravola |
 Picture courtesy of Bill Ceravola |
  Current Issue on 75th Anniversary base |
We are looking for a picture showing
this type plate on duty.... Can you help us? |
 Current Issue on 75th Anniversary base |
We are looking for a picture showing
this type plate on duty.... Can you help us? |
 1994-Current issue - Known as the ACE of ACE's. The Blue Max distinction is awarded each year, to the LSP trooper who recovers the most stolen motor vehicles and effects the arrest of the perpetrators. It is believed that a minimum of 25 recoveries/arrests are needed for the Blue Max award. RARE!! |
  Pictures courtesy of Bill Ceravola |
 Special Weapons and Tactics Picture courtesy of Bill Ceravola |
 Picture courtesy of Bill Ceravola |
 In effect as a result of Y2K planning. Intended for officers dedicated to intervene during civil unrest. Similar to a Public Order Unit (Nice smushed bug on that one!) Picture courtesy of Bill Ceravola |
 Picture courtesy of Bill Ceravola |
 K-9 Unit Front Plate Picture courtesy of Bill Ceravola |
 Picture courtesy of Bill Ceravola |
 1994-Current issue- Department of Public Safety Office of Motor Vehicles. Although a "stand alone" state enforcement agency in its own right, the OMV work in close cooperation with the LSP in motor vehicle compliance matters. Plate courtesy of the Robert Ward Collection |
We are looking for a picture showing
this type plate on duty.... Can you help us? |
 Current plate issued to members of the LSP Motor Unit for use on their cars Picture courtesy of Bill Ceravola |
 Picture courtesy of Bill Ceravola |
 Picture courtesy of Bill Ceravola |
 Picture courtesy of Bill Ceravola |
 Current plate issued to members of the LSP Honor Guard for use on their cars Picture courtesy of Bill Ceravola |
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 87th class of the LSP Picture courtesy of Bill Ceravola |
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 This large decal was created for the 50 year mark of the LSP, and was placed on the driver's side front fender, ahead of the wheel well opening, near the top of the fender. There was also a pin made with this same design. |
 Picture courtesy of Dpty. Dwayne E. Larriviere |
 1994-Current issue- Originally an NTC souvenir issue, but many LSP Troopers use this as their front plate. |
 Picture courtesy of Bill Ceravola |
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