Dealing with traffic tickets and potential driver’s license suspensions can be stressful, confusing, and costly. As a New Orleans driver, you probably have a lot of questions about the fines you owe, what happens if you miss a payment or court date, whether your insurance will skyrocket, and how to reinstate your license if suspended.
As a New Orleans traffic ticket attorney, Lance J. Robinson has helped hundreds of drivers resolve their traffic ticket and license suspension issues. Here he answers the most frequently asked questions about:
How Much is a Speeding Ticket in New Orleans?
Getting pulled over and seeing those red and blue lights is never a welcome sight. And then comes the anxiety wondering how much your speeding ticket is going to cost. So, how much are fines for speeding tickets in New Orleans?
The specific fee for a speeding ticket depends on a few factors:
How much over the speed limit you were traveling
: Fines vary based on how much in excess of the posted speed limit you were driving. The table below shows the fine amountbased on the speeding violation.
| Speeding Violation |
Fine Amount |
| Emergency Vehicle Exceeding Limit by 10+ mph |
$100 |
| Speeding in Playground Zone |
$120 |
| 1-9 mph over posted limit |
$50 |
| 10-14 mph over posted limit |
$150 |
| 15-20 mph over posted limit |
$175 |
| Over 20 mph over posted limit |
Court Appearance Required |
| Impeding Traffic by Slow Speed |
$50 |
First vs. subsequent offenses
: Running afoul of traffic laws for the first time leads to smaller fines than repeat offenses. Drivers reported going as fast as 100 mph in a 55 zone get hit much harder if they already have speeding tickets in their history.
Location of violation
: Speeding fines can differ based on if the violation happened on local city streets, highways, school or construction zones. Fines are typically higher for school zones.
Court and administrative fees
: In addition to the base speeding ticket fine, you may end up paying more in fees and court costs added on to the citation.
What Happens If You Don't Pay Your New Orleans Traffic Ticket?
You got caught in a speed trap and now have a shiny new traffic ticket in hand. Can you just ignore it or stash it away unpaid? Absolutely not! Traffic tickets and citations in Louisiana require mandatory action within 15 days, or things spiral quickly:
Late Fees
Most jurisdictions add a late fee around $15-30 if you don’t pay the traffic ticket after 15 days. Trying to skirt the fine will just cost you extra.
Driver’s License Suspension
If fines and late fees remain unpaid after 60 days, your license gets automatically suspended
by the Office of Motor Vehicles until resolved. This also applies if you miss the court date printed on the citation.
Registration Suspension
Still not paying up after 90 days? The Office of Motor Vehicles will suspend your vehicle registration next, meaning you can’t legally drive that car at all.
Warrant for Your Arrest
If you somehow make it 6 months to a year ignoring that speeding ticket, eventually a warrant is issued for your arrest. Get pulled over again or have a police encounter, and you will wind up in handcuffs over simple traffic fines.
Clearly, it’s critical to act fast on traffic citations as penalties compound quickly. Your best move is resolving them immediately through payment, a traffic school request, or fighting the ticket in court. Don’t become a wanted criminal hiding from meter maids--take responsibility for your New Orleans traffic tickets.
Will My Insurance Go Up After a Speeding Ticket and If So How Much?
That $150 speeding ticket suddenly feels like small chage when your car insurance company says your rate is nearly doubling at renewal. But, can they legally do that?! Unfortunately, insurance hikes are common ramifications of moving violations, but not inevitable. Here's what to expect:
Insurance rates can and likely will increase
Car insurance companies view drivers with recent speeding tickets or accidents as riskier and more expensive to insure. State regulations allow basing rates largely on driving records. One ticket means you are statistically more prone to future violations and claims in insurers' eyes.
Possible rate hike between 15-45% on average
Industry data shows average insurance rate increases between 15-45% after just a single ticket for a moving violation like speeding, running a red light, improper lane change etc. On average, insurance rates increase 22%
after any traffic violation.
Multiple variables determine how much rates increase
How much your insurance premium might rise depends on your current policy limits, driving history prior to the ticket, specific violation type, and insurer practices in your state. Expect bigger impacts for major violations vs minor infractions. Shopping insurance policies can minimize the damage too.
Insurance spikes hurt, but going to traffic court to potentially dismiss that ticket or enrolling in defensive driving can help reduce or avoid the insurance premium penalties down the road. Remember, speed kills great insurance rates, so be sure to watch your speed around New Orleans.
How to Get Out of Paying a Speeding Ticket in New Orleans
Got tagged for speeding and don't have room in the budget for a pricey ticket? Or worse, you believe you were unfairly accused? Don't worry, you still have options to avoid fines and a possible suspension. Here are four ways to get out of paying a speeding ticket:
1. Plead not guilty and request a court hearing
You have 15 days from the ticket issue date
to request a hearing in traffic court to fight the charges. Gather any evidence, like photos of missing speed limit signs on the road, and practice what you will say to the judge. Make your case for dismissal if errors or lack of proof on the citation.
2. Request traffic school / defensive driving
For minor speeding offenses without aggravating circumstances, you may be eligible to attend traffic school in exchange for ticket dismissal. This online or classroom defensive driving course costs starting from as low as $30 and avoids a moving violation on your record.
3. Negotiate with the prosecutor
Meet with the prosecutor before your hearing date and politely ask for ticket reduction or driving school vs. fines and a damaged record. Bring evidence to strengthen your case if wrongly accused.
4. Hire a traffic ticket attorney
Your best shot is having a lawyer negotiate ticket dismissal or reduction of charges prior to court. Traffic ticket attorneys like Lance J. Robinson know how to navigate the system and handle negotiations with judges and prosecutors seeking convictions. Though lawyers aren't free, saving hundreds on your ticket or increased insurance premiums makes their fees well worth it.
How to Contest a Speeding Ticket in New Orleans
You got a speeding ticket but swear you weren’t exceeding the limit or have other grounds to contest it. Thankfully for you, Louisiana law provides ways for drivers to fight traffic citations in court. Here are tips on contesting a speeding or traffic ticket in Louisiana:
Request court hearing within 15 days
After receiving a traffic ticket in Louisiana, you have 15 calendar days to request a hearing before the court to contest it according to state law.
Instructions for requesting a hearing should be printed on the actual ticket or available from the court clerk. Act fast!
Gather evidence to fight the ticket
Build your case by taking photos of the area where you were pulled over, capturing proof of your actual speed if possible, subpoenaing the officer’s notes, locating witnesses, etc. The more evidence the better when contesting a citation. Consult your parish court on formats accepted.
Consider hiring a traffic ticket attorney
Traffic ticket attorneys such as Lance Robinson have expertise navigating local courts and negotiating with prosecutors which greatly helps get tickets dismissed or fines lowered. Legal fees generally cost less than the ticket itself.
Try negotiating with the prosecutor before court date
Meet with the prosecuting attorney, explain why the ticket should be dismissed, and provide any evidence. Negotiate a reduction or plea bargain to lesser charges ahead of trial. Over half of tickets get negotiated this way.
Don’t just pay a questionable ticket! Follow the steps above to contest that speeding citation or unauthorized red light camera ticket in Louisiana traffic court. Justice could be on your side.
How to Get a Speeding Ticket Dismissed in Court
You decided to contest that speeding ticket and now your court date is coming up. How exactly do you convince the judge to dismiss the ticket and waive any fines? With the right evidence and approach, you can get a good outcome. Here are tips to effectively argue your case in traffic court:
Gather evidence to refute the charges
Use photos, videos, bank/credit card statements, cell logs and witness testimony to prove your innocence. Common examples include proving you weren't speeding by sharing phone GPS data showing slower speeds, or providing store receipts showing you were miles away when ticketed.
Dress professionally and remain polite
You will be taken more seriously if properly groomed vs wearing shorts and flip flops. Judges hear excuses all day, so an antagonistic tone makes dismissal unlikely. Kill them with courtesy and facts instead.
Highlight mitigating circumstances
Provide context if you believe the speed limit abruptly changed, weather conditions were hazardous, signs unclear etc. These environmental factors could justify a traffic stop without assigning full blame.
Request driving school vs. fines
If actual speeding occurred but you want to avoid insurance hits and fines, request traffic school eligibility based on a clean driving history. Make your case for why you deserve defensive driving only.
Plead for mercy if the verdict seems set
If efforts fail to dismiss, make an appeal that the maximum penalties would cause financial hardship. Ask the judge to waive court fees at least, promising you learned your lesson.
With the right evidence and polite persistence, you can still get traffic ticket fines and penalties waived in court. Hiring a traffic ticket attorney vastly improves your chances as they know how to work the system.
What is Considered a Moving Violation in Louisiana?
A moving violation
is defined as any traffic offense committed while operating a motor vehicle. This includes both minor and more serious violations.
Some of the most common moving violations in Louisiana are:
Does Louisiana Have a Points System for Moving Violations?
Louisiana does not use a point system to track driving offenses. Instead, the state categorizes violations as either reported or unreported to your driving record.
For example, if you plead guilty to a speeding ticket by paying it, the court automatically submits that violation to the Louisiana Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). This impacts your driving record visible to insurance companies, who may raise premiums based on offenses.
Examples of moving violations defined by the state of Louisiana, which can lead to penalties such as fines, license suspension
, and increased insurance rates, include:
- DUI (blood alcohol over 0.08%)
- Failure to yield or signal
- Reckless/careless driving
- Disregard of traffic signs
DUI penalties can suspend licenses for up to a year even without conviction. Other moving violations incur predetermined fine amounts. Though Louisiana has no point system, these violations still appear on driving records. Based on the offense, additional consequences may include:
- Fines
- License suspension
- Jail time
Insurers access driving records and likely raise premiums in response.
Violations Impacting Licenses
Violations potentially causing suspension include:
- DUI
- Vehicular manslaughter
- Reckless driving
- Negligent vehicular homicide
- Leaving accident scene after injury/death
Fortunately, records clear in 3-10 years typically. But violations actively influence insurance rates for up to 10 years. Checking your record helps understand premium costs.
How to Check If Your Louisiana Driver’s License is Suspended
Wondering if your license is suspended in Louisiana? Unfortunately it’s a common issue, with over 250,000 licenses suspended annually in the state. Falling behind on traffic ticket payments or missing a court date can easily trigger suspensions. Here’s how to check your license status:
Check online
The fastest way is to use the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles Online Services and click on the Driver’s License Status
link. You will need your driver’s license number and the last 4 numbers of your social security number.
Call the OMV
You can call the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles at 225-925-6146. Provide your name, birth date and driver's license number to check license status and learn next steps if suspended. Expect long hold times.
Look for suspension warning signs
If you missed traffic court appearances or are behind on citation payments, you may already suspect your license got suspended. Unpaid tickets and notices piling up, calls from collections agencies, and law enforcement/court correspondence are signals as well.
Check your mail
The Office of Motor Vehicles is required to provide written notice via postal mail if your license is suspended or revoked. So if you forgot about that traffic court date years ago, you likely have paper confirmation sitting unopened somewhere.
Reviewing your license status online or by phone is step one. Next you need an action plan to get reinstated before driving privileges are permanently lost.
How to Reinstate a Suspended Louisiana Driver’s License
Due to several unpaid traffic tickets, missing a court date, canceled auto insurance, or falling behind on child support payments, your Louisiana driver's license just got suspended. Now the OMV (Office of Motor Vehicles) wants payment of a hefty reinstatement fee before they reissue your license. Is there any way around this penalty and fees? Let’s explore your options.
1. Pay outstanding traffic ticket fines and reinstatement fee
If you have unpaid traffic tickets or missed court dates, resolve those violations through the jurisdiction’s traffic court first. Then pay the license reinstatement fee at expresslane.org.
2. Provide mandatory auto insurance proof
Louisiana participates in the Driver’s Insurance Database. Your auto insurance company automatically reports policies to this database, visible to OMV. Lack of reported policy will suspend your license, requiring new proof of insurance before reinstatement.
3. Retake road test or vision exam
For prolonged license suspensions or serious offenses like a DUI, you may have to pass the written and road driving tests again before approved to drive. Vision tests are also commonly required. Complete any OMV exam requirements.
4. Use online License Reinstatement services
Once you clear all necessary fines, insurance proofs, and tests, reinstatement is easy through the state’s online License Reinstatement service at expresslane.org. Just login 24/7 for digital processing and printing of your temporary license until the card arrives by mail.
Summary of Key Takeaways
Getting a traffic ticket isn’t exactly how you want to spend your time or hard-earned money whether you’re a Louisiana driver or a tourist. But now that you’ve read this guide’s most commonly asked questions about traffic citations, license suspensions, insurance impacts, and your options, hopefully you feel empowered. Let’s recap:
No one expects or sets aside hundreds of dollars for surprise traffic tickets. But now that you know what to expect and proactive steps to take, you can save money, avoid suspensions, and keep insurance affordable despite mistakes on the road.
Slow down, drive safely, and breathe easier by leaning on attorney guidance if you receive a ticket citation.
Contact New Orleans Traffic Ticket Attorney Lance J. Robinson for Assistance with Your New Orleans Traffic Ticket
Dealing with traffic tickets, potential license suspensions, and rising insurance rates can be stressful. But you don’t have to tackle it alone or enter the intimidating court system unaware of the complex processes.
Attorney Lance J. Robinson has successfully helped hundreds of New Orleans drivers just like you fight tickets in court, restore suspended licenses, and maintain reasonable insurance rates.
With deep expertise in traffic law and professional relationships with judges and district attorneys, Lance levels the playing field for citizens against overzealous ticketing. He works diligently to dismiss unfair citations or negotiate reduced charges to protect your driving record and insurance premiums.
If you have received a traffic ticket, missed a court date resulting in suspended license, or seen insurance premiums skyrocketing after a moving violation in the New Orleans region, please reach out for legal guidance and representation.
Lance will evaluate your unique situation, charges, evidence, and history to build the strongest case for a positive outcome. But please don't delay--as more time passes, the system works against you with late fees and escalating penalties.
Call 504-427-6210
or complete our simple online contact form to schedule a free initial consultation today.
