BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - A recent state audit revealed that Louisiana drivers are paying more to reinstate their licenses after an insurance lapse than those convicted of driving while intoxicated, prompting calls for reform at the State Capitol.

According to the Louisiana Legislative Auditor, first-time DWI offenders can have their license reinstated for a fee of $100. Drivers whose licenses were suspended due to insurance lapses, however, must pay between $150 and $525. The audit found that 80% of the Office of Motor Vehicles’ fee collections come from these insurance lapse penalties.

Drivers like Vanessa Boyd say the fee structure is backward.

“I know people with 5 DWI’s, and that have killed people because they reinstated their license, and they’ve proven to be drunk drivers repeat

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