[NichollsGirl]

Anything or anyone in Louisiana? Southern La.

[proud 2 be from the south]

dont know if you are still here but i am from south louisiana

[gottadothis]

I am also from southern la... contact me if you are still around...

[Jacob-Oram]

I am an aficionado of anything relating to Louisiana automobiles. I've been collecting license plates since I was about five years old; to this day I can tell you just about anything about a Louisiana license plate on sight, including its year and month of issue and location. As a kid I was also drawn to Louisiana's colorful inspection stickers. I rediscovered that sense of awe about a year ago when I saw a car in a parking lot that still had a 1976 inspection sticker (and was still being driven!). I was one of those annoying kids who always dug in people's wallets and glove compartments. And unlike most people, I actually relish going to the DMV.

Currently, I have (or have seen online) LA driver's licenses from 1966, 1977, 1979, 1986, 1990, 1997, 1999, 2001 and 2003. I'm looking to see designs I've never seen before, so my wish list comprises the following eras:

--1946-65 (Prior to 1946, Louisiana issued driver's licenses only to truck drivers, chauffeurs and other motor professionals; those would also be cool to see)

--1967-1977 (I used to have two licenses I think were from 1972 and 1974; I accidentally threw them away, and now I hate myself for it)

--1980-1985 (also, I'd like to know at what point between 1986 and 1987 that Louisiana switched from the world's blandest design to the world's blandest design with a lipstick "Louisiana" across the top)

As for inspection stickers, I know they go back to at least 1964. I'm most interested in images from 1976-1988, though any year before 1993 will suffice (they've hardly changed since then).

I'd appreciate any help or referrals anyone could give me in this effort. If you have a scan of one of these items, please send it my way (ianmcgibboney at gmail). You can black out any information you choose; the idea here is to see the design, not to collect private information about people. Also note that this is just a matter of personal curiosity; I'm not secretly out to publish a book or database (unless there turns out to be a call for it). Such collections have surfaced for other states but I have yet to see anyone chronicle Louisiana. Sounds like something worthwhile.