Louisiana requires all registered owners of automobiles to carry liability insurance. Failure to do so subjects them to fines, limited recovery of damages and impoundment of their vehicle.
The “No Pay, No Play” law prohibits uninsured motorist from collecting the first $10,0000 in property damage and the first $10,000 in personal injury damages regardless of fault. Motorist who fail to provide proof of insurance are subject to having their vehicle impounded at their expense. They may also have their license plate pulled and be required to provide proof of insurance within 3 days. If they do not provide proof and are stopped again then they will be fined and charged a reinstatement fee.
Every driver and owner needs to be responsible and carry the mandatory liability insurance. It is also a good idea to carry uninsured motorist coverage.
According to a recent study 12.3% of Louisiana’s drivers are uninsured and that will certainly increase as the economy sours. Louisiana law provides that all drivers be afforded the opportunity to purchase uninsured motorist coverage. It is affordable and comes with your policy unless you specifically reject it.
Richard J. Arsenault, 2011
