LA SB157

Creates new crime of unauthorized use of rental service equipment, covering intentional use without payment or keeping equipment past the return date without making required additional payments

Penalties scale by equipment replacement value: up to 6 months/$1,000 fine (under $1,000); up to 5 years/$3,000 (under $5,000); up to 10 years/$10,000 (under $25,000); up to 20 years/$50,000 ($25,000+)

Courts must order restitution equal to one day's rental cost for each day the equipment is kept past the return date until recovered

Complete defenses include: returning equipment within 72 hours of the due date, rental service refusing the return, equipment destruction, or equipment being stolen or seized by legal action

Successful use of a defense does not shield the renter from civil liability for damages related to the unreturned equipment