§71.2.  Failure to pay bridge or bridge-causeway toll

A.  Failure to pay bridge or bridge-causeway toll is the intentional driving or towing of a motor vehicle through a toll collection facility without payment of a required toll, where appropriate signs have been erected to notify that it is subject to payment of the tolls beyond such sign.

B.  Failure by the registered owner of any vehicle to contest a notice of liability or pay the toll and administrative fees provided by R.S. 47:820.5.1, upon notice from the public entity which owns and administers the bridge-causeway, and to pay the demand for payment served by the public entity which owns and administers the bridge-causeway within thirty days after the demand for payment has been deposited, by certified mail, in the United States mail system addressed to the registered owner of the vehicle as shown by the records of the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of motor vehicles, shall be presumptive evidence of the vehicle owner's intent to defraud.

C.  Failure by the registered owner of any vehicle to appeal a violation notice or pay the tolls and administrative fees provided by R.S. 47:820.5.2 upon notice from the public entity which owns and administers the bridge and to pay the tolls, administrative fees, and late charges after the notice given under R.S. 47:820.5.2(G)(1)(c) shall be presumptive evidence of the vehicle owner's intent to defraud.

D.  Whoever commits the crime of failing to pay bridge or bridge-causeway tolls shall be imprisoned for not more than six months or may be fined not more than one hundred dollars for each violation, or both.

E.  In addition to any fine or penalty imposed under this Section, the court shall order payment of the toll and administrative cost provided by R.S. 47:820.5.1 et seq.

Acts 1995, No. 720, §1; Acts 2003, No. 727, §1, eff. June 27, 2003.