FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Adrienne Wheeler, 504-561-7312; awheeler@louisianaappleseed.org
June 28, 2022, NEW ORLEANS, LA - The signing of Act 436 of 2022 is an important first step in correcting harmful statutes highlighted in Appleseed’s 2021 report: “Louisiana Suspended”. This collaborative report, composed with backing from the Huey and Angelina Wilson Foundation, stated "Louisiana's Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) has over 252,000 suspended drivers' licenses on record as of 2019. Of the 252,000 suspended licenses, nearly 80% of suspensions were related to non-moving violations (201,600). Conclusively, it is unreasonable to revoke privileges stemming from violations that do not sustain the public's safety.
In response to this report, the bipartisan bill HB129 was filed by Rep. Richard Nelson, and co-authored by Rep. Jason Hughes. As a result, the law will now provide a 180-day grace period when someone misses a court date before the Office of Motor Vehicles can suspend their driver's license. This procedure allows people time to rectify their legal situation without automatically losing driving privileges.
Louisiana Appleseed, in partnership with other coalition partners, will continue to monitor whether this policy meaningfully helps to address the poor outcomes of suspending drivers’ licenses. We are grateful to Reps Nelson and Hughes, coalition partners Louisiana Progress, and the Justice and Accountability Center, funders Louisiana Bar Foundation and, the Huey and Angelina Wilson Foundation, along with the many pro bono attorneys and other supporters of this work.
Full history available at: https://legis.la.gov/legis/BillInfo.aspx?i=241688
Louisiana Appleseed is a statewide nonprofit based in New Orleans, Louisiana, and a grantee and strategic partner of the Louisiana Bar Foundation that focuses on policy-level solutions by recruiting attorneys to provide free services through a research-oriented approach to policy change. Louisiana Appleseed's mission is rooted in three pillars dedicated to increasing Access to: Justice, Opportunity, and Education