Louisiana traffic tickets
Points, traffic school, deadlines and what a ticket does to your insurance in Louisiana.
Speeding ticketUp to about $360estimate with court costs
Driver improvement program (Article 892.1)Yesavailable, with limits
Insurance after 1 ticket+23%on $3,924 a year
What will my ticket really cost? Check my points
What kind of ticket did you get?
- Speeding
- School zone
- Work zone
- Red light
- Stop sign
- Texting
- No insurance
- Seat belt
- School bus
- Failure to yield
- Parking
Which court is on your ticket?
State law sets a range, and the court picks the amount. Pick the court named on your ticket.
Every other Louisiana county court
Phone, pay-online link and traffic school steps for 4 more courts. Tap a county to open it.
Jefferson County(504) 731-4682Pays online
Jefferson Parish First and Second Parish Courts (Traffic). Your notice shows the amount.
- Address
- First Parish Court, 924 David Drive, Metairie, LA 70003
- Phone
- (504) 731-4682
- Hours
- Monday-Thursday 8:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m., Friday 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Lafayette County(337) 236-5880
15th Judicial District Court, Lafayette Parish (Traffic). Your notice shows the amount.
- Address
- Lafayette Parish Sheriff Collections, 1010 Lafayette Street, 4th Floor, Lafayette, LA 70501
- Phone
- (337) 236-5880
- Traffic school
- The Clerk's Traffic Department handles Article 892.1 driver improvement requests. The court posts a list of approved programs.
Orleans County(504) 658-8500Pays online
Municipal and Traffic Court of New Orleans. Your notice shows the amount.
- Address
- 727 S. Broad St., New Orleans, LA 70119
- Phone
- (504) 658-8500
- Hours
- Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
St. Tammany County985-809-8250Pays online
22nd Judicial District Court, St. Tammany Parish (Traffic). Your notice shows the amount.
- Address
- St. Tammany Parish Justice Center, 701 North Columbia Street, Covington, LA 70433
- Phone
- 985-809-8250
- Hours
- Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
What are your options with a Louisiana ticket?
Paying is the fastest route, and it usually puts the ticket on your record. Driver improvement program (Article 892.1) is the main way to avoid that.
What does Louisiana law allow for speeding?
Court costs are added to every fine and are set by each court, often around $140 to $185 on top of the fine.[10]
Every fine on the Louisiana schedule (12)
| Ticket | State fine | With court costs |
|---|---|---|
| Speeding, first offenseNo set amount by mph in state law. | Up to $175[3][10] | Up to $360 |
| Speeding, 15+ mph overPrinted as: Speeding 15 mph or more over the limitSame range, but you cannot plead guilty and pay by mail. | Up to $175[3] | Up to $360 |
| Speeding in an active construction or utility work zone with workers on site | $500–$1,000[3] | $640–$1,185 |
| Any traffic violation in a designated highway safety corridorOr up to 30 days in jail, or both. | $750–$1,000[3] | $890–$1,185 |
| Speeding in a school zoneGeneral first offense range. | Up to $175[3] | Up to $360 |
| Running a red light, first offenseGeneral first offense range plus court costs. | Up to $175[3] | Up to $360 |
| Running a stop sign, first offenseGeneral first offense range plus court costs. | Up to $175[3] | Up to $360 |
| Careless operation, first offenseGeneral first offense range plus court costs. | Up to $175[3] | Up to $360 |
| Handheld phone or wireless device while drivingNonmoving violation. | $100[6] | $240–$285 |
| Safety belt not worn, first offenseThe $50 includes all court costs. | $50[7] | $50 |
| Passing a stopped school busOr up to 6 months in jail, or both, when no one is hurt. | $100–$500[8] | $240–$685 |
| No proof of insurance in the vehicle | On your notice[9][3] | Plus court costs |
With court costs is an estimate. Court costs set by each court, often $140 to $185.[10] Your notice shows the exact total.
How many points is each Louisiana ticket?
Louisiana has no point system. The Office of Motor Vehicles can investigate a driver whose moving violation convictions are frequent enough to show disrespect for traffic laws, then suspend the license for up to 6 months or revoke it.[2]
Commercial driver? Points and disqualifications work differently. How tickets affect a CDL →
When can you lose your license?
Full wording of each rule
- Three reckless-driving convictions (or bail forfeitures) for offenses within 12 months: mandatory 24-month suspension
- Frequent moving-violation convictions: after investigation, OMV may suspend up to 6 months or revoke
Getting your license back after a suspension costs $60 in Louisiana, before any course or court costs.[2]
Drivers under 21
Not published[2]
Can driver improvement program (Article 892.1) keep a ticket off your record in Louisiana?
It can help. You plead guilty or no contest and the court puts off sentencing for 90 days.[4]
How often: Once every 2 years. Your record must show no course taken under this rule in the 2 years before the offense date.
Is it worth it for your ticket? Get a yes or no →
Who qualifies, CDL drivers and cost
You plead guilty or no contest and the court puts off sentencing for 90 days. If you bring a course certificate in time, the court sets the conviction aside and dismisses the charge. The charge stays off your driving record, and an insurer may not raise your rate or cancel your policy because of it.[4]
Who can use it: A misdemeanor traffic charge under Title 32, except speeding 25 mph or more over the limit. You need a valid license or permit. Ask the court in person or by mail postmarked on or before the appearance date on the ticket.[4]
Cost: The course fee plus the fines and court costs for the ticket. The court can add an administrative fee of up to $10.[4]
Do school and work zones cost more?
School zones
No statewide doubling. A school zone speeding ticket cannot be paid by mail, so you must go to court. Using a handheld phone in a school zone is a $250 fine. Some parish courts double speeding fines in school zones.[3][6] (Local doubling seen on the East Baton Rouge court page.)
Work zones
Higher fines. Speeding or breaching a construction or utility work zone while workers are on site carries a fine of $500 to $1,000. Violations in a designated highway safety corridor carry $750 to $1,000.[3]
When is your ticket due?
- Date on noticePay or respondset by the court[3][5]
Details
Pay by mail or appear in court by the appearance date on your ticket. If you miss it: If you miss it without paying, the court can add a penalty up to the amount of the fine and notify the state, which starts a license suspension.
- 90daysFinish traffic schoolfrom the court date[4]
Details
Bring the driver improvement course certificate to court. If you miss it: If the court does not get the certificate within the 90 days it allowed, it can sentence you on the guilty or no contest plea.
- 180daysLicense suspended if ignoredfrom the notice date[5]
Details
Appear or pay after a failure to appear notice from the state. If you miss it: Your license may be suspended. Clearing it costs a $100 fee to the state on top of what the court charges.
- Date on noticeAsk for traffic schoolset by the court[4]
Details
Ask the court for a driver improvement course. If you miss it: Ask in person or by mail postmarked on or before the appearance date on the ticket.
What happens if you don't respond
If you were released on a written promise to appear and miss court, the court can report you to the Department of Public Safety. The state mails a notice that your license may be suspended if you do not appear or pay within 180 days. After you resolve the ticket, the court notifies the state and you pay a $100 fee to free the license. The court can also add a penalty up to the amount of the original fine and issue a warrant. Being in jail on the court date is a valid defense.[5][3]
Work out your exact dates → · Already missed it?
Will an out-of-state ticket follow you home?
- Shares convictions with other states (Driver License Compact)Yes[1]
- Can suspend you over unpaid out-of-state tickets (Nonresident Violator Compact)Yes[1]
Louisiana is in both the Driver License Compact and the Nonresident Violator Compact. Ignoring a Louisiana ticket can lead to fees from your home state as well.[1]
How out-of-state tickets work →
How much will it raise your insurance in Louisiana?
One speeding ticket raised a full-coverage premium by about 23% on average in Louisiana[1], from a clean-record average of $3,924 a year.[1] If that increase stays for three years, that's about $2,708 on top of the fine.
Averages from ValuePenguin State of Auto Insurance in 2026, not a quote. Insurers differ, and many look back three to five years.
Where are the official pages?
What else do people ask?
How do points work in Louisiana?
Louisiana has no point system. The Office of Motor Vehicles can investigate a driver whose moving violation convictions are frequent enough to show disrespect for traffic laws, then suspend the license for up to 6 months or revoke it. Three reckless driving convictions for offenses within 12 months bring a mandatory 24-month suspension.
Can traffic school keep a ticket off my record in Louisiana?
Driver improvement program (Article 892.1): You plead guilty or no contest and the court puts off sentencing for 90 days. If you bring a course certificate in time, the court sets the conviction aside and dismisses the charge. The charge stays off your driving record, and an insurer may not raise your rate or cancel your policy because of it. Limit: Once every 2 years. Your record must show no course taken under this rule in the 2 years before the offense date.
Will an out-of-state ticket follow me home to Louisiana?
Louisiana is a member of the Driver License Compact, so convictions in other member states are reported to Louisiana. Louisiana is in both the Driver License Compact and the Nonresident Violator Compact. Ignoring a Louisiana ticket can lead to fees from your home state as well.
How much does a speeding ticket raise insurance in Louisiana?
About 23% on average for full coverage, according to ValuePenguin State of Auto Insurance in 2026. Your insurer's rate can differ a lot from the average.
Sources
Louisiana law and DMV sources (10)
- AAMVA DLC/NRVC Member Joinder Dates (rev. April 2026), AAMVA.
- La. R.S. 32:414 Suspension, revocation, and cancellation of licenses, Louisiana State Legislature.
- La. R.S. 32:57 Penalties and alternatives to citation, Louisiana State Legislature.
- La. C.Cr.P. Art. 892.1 Driver improvement programs, Louisiana State Legislature.
- La. R.S. 32:57.1 Failure to honor written promise to appear, Louisiana State Legislature.
- La. R.S. 32:59 Use of wireless telecommunications device prohibited, Louisiana State Legislature.
- La. R.S. 32:295.1 Safety belt use, Louisiana State Legislature.
- La. R.S. 32:80 Overtaking and passing certain school buses, Louisiana State Legislature.
- La. R.S. 32:863.1 Evidence of compulsory motor vehicle liability security, penalty, fees, Louisiana State Legislature.
- La. R.S. 32:61 Maximum speed limit, Louisiana State Legislature.
Insurance sources (4)
- State of Auto Insurance in 2026, ValuePenguin (LendingTree).
- Car Insurance Rate Increases with a Speeding Ticket in 2026, ValuePenguin (LendingTree).
- How Does a DUI Affect Your Auto Insurance Rates in 2026?, ValuePenguin (LendingTree).
- How Much Will My Car Insurance Rates Go Up After a Crash in 2026?, ValuePenguin (LendingTree).