PORT ALLEN — The Port Allen City Council is set to vote on whether to give the city's Marshal's Office permission to continue conducting traffic stops, making arrests and exercising general law enforcement authority.

A new state law limits marshal's offices in cities with fewer than 40,000 residents from taking on those duties without city council approval. Port Allen has a population of about 5,000 residents.

Council member Charlene Gordon said she sides with the new law. She pointed out that the city already has law enforcement handling traffic enforcement.

"We have enough agencies in the city of Port Allen that write tickets. We have city police officers. Our Chief Donovan Mitchell does an awesome job," Gordon said.

Gordon said the Marshal's Office has a defined role that does not include writing tickets.

"Their role to me, over the years, is to protect the judges, the courtrooms, the fugitives, serving warrants and subpoenas, and I feel like that's what they should be doing," she said.

Resident Gregory Payne said he expects the vote to sort things out. "I just feel like the chief ought to be able to do his job and the marshals ought to be able to do their job, and we're going to vote on it today," Payne said.

Without council approval, marshals would be limited to courtroom duties. WBRZ reached out to Marshal Sonny Massey for comment, but he has not yet responded. 

The state law goes into effect Jan. 1, 2027