NEW ORLEANS — Louisiana residents with outstanding Office of Motor Vehicles fines for car insurance violations can now reset their debts under a new reform law.
As our partners at The Times-Picayune report, over 350,000 drivers are eligible to pay only the original fines instead of inflated penalties, which previously could escalate from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands.
Drivers can pay the reduced amount in full or set up a payment plan. The reform, championed by OMV Commissioner Dan Casey and Gov. Jeff Landry, addresses a system that disproportionately penalizes residents by rapidly increasing fines and fees for unpaid violations.
Under the old system, fees could quickly become overwhelming for some residents. If a driver didn’t pay a car insurance lapse fine after two notices from the OMV, the debt was sent to the Office of Debt Recovery, where the original fine—starting at $125—was raised to the maximum $525, along with a 25% surcharge.
Drivers with unpaid fines must contact the agency by December 31, 2024, to reset their fines to the original violation amount. After this date, debts older than 180 days will be referred to the Office of Debt Recovery.
Unlike the previous system, referred debts will remain at the original fine amount, and a recovery fee will be reduced to 15%. Additionally, the referral period for delinquent debt has been extended from 60 to 180 days, giving drivers more time to address their fines with the OMV.
To begin the reset process, drivers can visit expresslane.org/dlstatus to check for unpaid fines. Next, they should contact the OMV through expresslane.org/contactus and select "Installment Agreement or Reinstatement Return Call." Callbacks will come from (225) 925-6146 during regular business hours.
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