Driver Caught in OMV Mess Following Fraudulent Card Activity Gets Good News

PONCHATOULA – An $800 fine and license suspension from the Office of Motor Vehicles disappeared after a year and a half, but it took help from 2 On Your Side to make it happen.

A woman spent a year and a half driving her husband to and from work because of a fine she had agreed not to pay.

“I’m not going to give them my money when they don’t deserve it,” Maddison Aikman said.

On Thursday, Jude Aikman got behind the wheel and drove himself. He says the whole situation is awkward.

“I don’t think it should have taken this long to resolve the problem,” Jude Aikman said.

Jude and Maddison say the fine wasn’t theirs. The charge was added after the card they used to pay expired insurance charges was canceled for alleged fraud. Before a new card was mailed, OMV attempted to debit his account. Things got out of hand when Maddison couldn’t convince anyone to pick up the phone to change the card number or hear her story in person at an OMV office.

“They’re doing something really terrible and I know it’s not just our fault,” Maddison Aikman said.

In April, 2 On Your Side got involved and learned that OMV would waive the fine if they could obtain official documentation from the bank indicating that the card on file was canceled due to fraud. It took a while to contact the bank, but once the documents were issued, the fine was settled.

“It took us a little while to get the documents to OMV,” said Jude Aikman.
Now, Jude is back on a payment plan, paying off lapsed insurance fines dating back to 2019. The $800 fee is no longer part of that amount. It also means he’s back on the road.

“I was able to get to work,” Jude Aikman said.

Last week, OMV Commissioner Dan Casey sat down with 2 On Your Side to talk about a bill passed by the Legislature that included fines for people who lose their insurance. Thousands owe the state between $125 and $30,000.