01/13/2026
The column I wrote for the Ruston Daily Leader for Stalking Awareness Month.
Turning the Page on Stalking: Why Louisiana’s New Law Matters More Than Ever
January is Stalking Awareness Month, a time to shine a light on a crime that is far too common and far too often dismissed until it is too late. For me, this month is deeply personal. I am not only an advocate; I am a survivor. I know what it feels like to look over your shoulder, to constantly check your surroundings, and to live with the quiet, relentless fear that someone is watching, following, or tracking your every move. Stalking is not “attention,” not “jealousy,” and not “concern.” It is control. It is intimidation. And it is a predictor of lethal violence.
For survivors of domestic violence, stalking often continues long after the relationship ends. It escalates. It adapts. And today, it frequently becomes digital. Many abusers use technology to extend their reach, whether through hidden devices, hacked accounts, or remote tracking systems built into vehicles. This kind of surveillance traps victims in a cycle of fear, making every attempt to regain independence feel dangerous.
But this year, Louisiana has taken an extraordinary step forward. Act 225, passed in 2024, gives survivors something we have desperately needed: the ability to disable a remote tracking device on a vehicle once a protective order is in place. Now codified in La. R.S. 14:323, this law requires manufacturers to turn off a vehicle’s remote tracking features within two business days after receiving proper documentation, including a certified protective order and proof of ownership or exclusive use of the vehicle. “Act 225 closed the gap in the current law of illegal use of tracking devices, as well as creating legal demand to car manufacturers to create safety for survivors”, says Kelly Downey, a detective with the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office. “The very vehicle that a survivor uses to flee should not be the source of the predator to stalk with.” Kelly also co-authored Bill 74, along with Laurie Marien, Allison Alonzo, Monica Taylor, and Speaker pro tem Mike Johnson.
For those who have never experienced the terror of being followed or monitored, this change might sound technical. But for survivors like me, it is monumental. It is the difference between feeling hunted and feeling free. It hands power back to the person who has already endured too much.
Louisiana was the first state in the nation to pass a law like this, holding automakers accountable for their role in protecting victims. If a manufacturer fails to comply, they can face substantial civil penalties, funds that will support a Survivor Empowerment Fund. This isn’t just policy. It’s a recognition that technology has changed the landscape of abuse, and our laws must adapt just as quickly.
Stalking itself is already a crime under Louisiana law. Still, until now, survivors had little recourse when the person abusing them used remote access technology baked into the car they depended on. Act 225 closes that dangerous gap, acknowledging stalking, domestic violence, dating violence, and sexual assault as covered acts. It affirms that the state believes survivors and is willing to take concrete action to help keep them safe.
As a survivor of stalking and domestic violence, I see firsthand how vital this law is. Survivors come to DART scared, unsure how they are being watched, and unsure whether anyone will take their fears seriously. This month, I want every survivor to hear this clearly: Your fear is real. Your safety matters. And Louisiana has taken steps to protect you.
Stalking Awareness Month is about education, awareness, and accountability, but it is also about hope. Act 225 represents progress, compassion, and a future where survivors don’t have to choose between mobility and safety.
This January, let’s honor survivors by spreading the word, supporting one another, and continuing to push for the changes that save lives. Stalking thrives in silence, but so does healing, when we start breaking that silence together.
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