What happens if you don't take care of a traffic ticket?

As of August 1, 2022, if an individual fails to pay a traffic citation or fails to appear for his court appearance, the DMV will no longer suspend his license immediately. Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:57.1 now requires that the DMV notify the individual via regular mail and “any available electronic communication” that “if he fails to honor the written promise to appear or pay an appropriate fine for the offense within one hundred eighty days after the date the notice was received,” that his license may be suspended. The Department is also required to notify the individual again no later than one hundred twenty days after the Department receives notice of the failure to appear. La. R.S. 32:57.1(A).

This statute increases the reinstatement fee for a suspended driver’s license to $100 from $50 once the suspension has gone into effect. La R.S. 43:57.1(B).

The statute further allows that if the individual failed to appear due to incarceration, his license shall be immediately reinstated without payment of any reinstatement fee. La R.S. 32:57.1(D).

If you or someone you know is dealing with unpaid traffic tickets or a driver’s license suspension, call us at 318-459-9111 to schedule a consultation.