Talbot (HB 851) Act No. 639
Relative to the requirement for motor vehicle liability insurance coverage, existing law
requires a fine not to exceed $1,000 for violation of the Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility
law.
New law retains existing law and additionally requires a minimum fine of $500 and provides
that in lieu of imposing a monetary fine, the court may order the violator to purchase motor
vehicle liability insurance and to submit proof of such insurance to the court.
Existing law provides that the Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections (DPS&C) may
suspend, revoke, or cancel the driver's license of a driver who violates the Motor Vehicle
Safety Responsibility law.
Existing law requires that DPS&C revoke the registration, impound, or cancel the vehicle
license plate of a vehicle not covered by security as required by the Motor Vehicle Safety
Responsibility law.
Existing law requires that DPS&C revoke the registration, and impound the vehicle, or
cancel the vehicle license plate of a vehicle not covered by security as required by the Motor
Vehicle Safety Responsibility law.
Existing law requires that DPS&C revoke the registration, impound the vehicle, and cancel
the vehicle license plate of a vehicle for a period of not less than six months nor longer than
18 months when the owner submitted false information that the vehicle was covered by the
required security in his application for registration or in his application for inspection.
New law retains existing law but requires that DPS&C revoke the registration, impound the
vehicle, and cancel the vehicle license plate of a vehicle for a period of not less than 12
months.
New law amends existing law registration reinstatement fees as follows:
For vehicles nor covered: From To
0 - 30 days $ 25 $ 50
31 - 90 days $100 $150
over 90 days $200 $300
For a false declaration of coverage:
0 - 30 days $ 25 $125
31 - 90 days $100 $200
over 90 days $200 $400
Existing law provides that if a person has multiple violations at the time of reinstatement, the
total amount of fees shall not exceed $500 for a person under 65 years old, and $200 for a
person 65 years or older.
New law removes the maximum amount of fees that can be owed by any person at the time
of reinstatement.
Existing law provides that DPS&C shall waive the sanctions and reinstatement fees for
failure to maintain the required security when the owner furnishes evidence to DPS&C that
the vehicle is currently covered by the required security.
New law retains existing law but requires the security to have been continuous without lapse.
Existing law requires a fine of $50 for a first offense and a fine of $150 for a second offense
when the operator of a vehicle registered in another state is involved in an accident in La. and
is unable to provide documentation that the vehicle is in compliance with the Motor Vehicle
Safety Responsibility law.
New law increases the fine to $100 for a first offense and to $250 for a second offense. In addition to reinstatement fees, existing law provides for criminal sanctions for false
declaration of coverage and knowingly operating a vehicle without coverage. New law
amends existing law criminal sanctions as follows:
(1)For a false declaration of coverage: from a maximum of $100 to between $250 and
$500.
(2)For knowingly operating a vehicle without coverage: from a maximum of $500 to
between $500 and $1,000.
(3)For a vehicle without coverage involved in an accident: from a maximum of $500
to between $500 and $1,000 and revocation of the vehicle's registration from 60 days
to 180 days and suspension of driving privileges from 60 days to 180 days.
Effective Feb. 1, 2015.
(Amends R.S. 32:862(G)(4), 863(A)(1), (3)(a), and (B)(2)(b), 863.1(I)(3), 864, and 865(A)
and (B)(1))