TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

1.                 What can I do when I get a traffic ticket?

2.                 How long do I have to respond to my ticket?

3.                 How do I pay for my traffic ticket?

4.                 Do I qualify for the Article 894 Program?

5.                 Will I have to go to Court?

6.                 How do I plead Not Guilty?

7.                 What happens when I plead Not Guilty?

8.                 What if I live out of state or parish?

9.                 What happens when I get to court?

10.             I lost my ticket, what should I do?

11.             How will this ticket affect my driving record?

12.             What about my insurance?

13.             How are fine amounts determined?

14.             What is the cost of my ticket if paid by the pay date listed on my ticket?

DEFINITIONS:

·        Infraction – An infraction is breaking a state law, regulation or local ordinance that usually does not require going to court.  You can resolve your infraction (motor vehicle or traffic ticket) by paying the amount due by mail or in person.  An infraction is not a crime.  The minimum fine for an infraction is $25.00 and the maximum fine is $210.00, plus any fees and costs required by the statue.

·        Violation – A violation is breaking a state law, regulation or local ordinance where the only ordinance where the only penalty is payment of a fine.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:   Please contact the Ticket Office       (985) 873-6532, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Q & A’s:

1.                 What can I do when I get a traffic ticket? 

·        Pay in Person – Traffic Department, 2^nd Floor Courthouse Annex, 7856 Main Street, Suite 210, Houma, LA.  70360.  Payment can be made by money order or cashier’s check.  CASH PAYMENTS CAN ONLY BE MADE IN PERSON.  NO PERSONAL OR BUSINESS CHECKS ACCEPTED.  Partial payments are not accepted.

·        Pay by Mail – Send a money order or cashier’s check for payment in full – PLEASE DO NOT SEND CASH -  partial payments are not accepted.  Mail to:  T.P.C.C.F. (Terrebonne Parish Criminal Court Fund), P.O. Box 3600, Houma, LA  70361-3600.  Send a self-addressed stamped envelope with payment.

·        Article 894 Program – If you have a CLEAN driving record and have not been placed on this program in the past, you can call (985) 873-6500 and ask for the Article 894 Program.

2.                 How long do I have to respond to my ticket?

·        You must respond by the Pay Date on your ticket.  This date is  located at the bottom left corner written above the court date on your ticket.

·        If you do not pay in full or plead Not Guilty by the Pay Date your case will be transferred to court.

·        If your ticket is for a criminal infraction, your case will be transferred to court, an arrest warrant will be issued. The court  may set a bond for your release.  This will add the charge of “Failure to Pay or Plead” to your original charge.

3.                 How do I pay for my traffic ticket?  

          * Click for Fine Schedule

·        Mail a cashier’s check or money order for the full amount due.  PLEASE DO NOT SEND CASH.  NO PERSONAL OR BUSINESS CHECKS ARE ACCEPTED.

·        Make payment payable to T.P.C.C.F.

·        Payment plans are NOT available.  Payment in full is required on or before the Pay Date shown on your ticket located at the bottom left corner written above the court date.

·        No credit card payments are accepted.

·        You must pay the total amount due on the ticket or plead not guilty.  You cannot pay the fine for one charge and plead not guilty to other charges.

·        Late payments – If your case is transferred to court because you failed to pay or plead not guilty by the pay date, you will be required to pay the amount due and an additional warrant fee of $50.00.

·        Payment of a motor vehicle infraction fine or mail-in violation fine is considered a finding of “guilty.”

4.                 Do I qualify for the Article 894 Program?

·        If you have a CLEAN driving record and have not been placed on the Article 894 Traffic Program before, you can call (985) 873-6500 and ask for the Program.  You record will be checked for all violations.

5.                 Will I have to go to Court?

·        Unless you pay the full amount due, you will have to go to court.

·        If you plead not guilty, you will have to go to court (#6-How do I plead Not Guilty?)

6.                 How do I plead Not Guilty?

·        You must appear in court on the date stated on your citation.

7.                 What happens when I plead not guilty?

·        You will be given a trial date.  You must return back on that date of dispute the citation.

·        A bond is required to plead not guilty.

8.                 What if I live out of state or parish?

·        You can pay the citation by mail (follow the instructions on #3-How To Pay

·        To dispute the citation, you must appear in court on your court date that is on your citation.  If you do not appear on your court date, a warrant for your arrest will be issued.  This will add the charge of “Failure to Pay or Plead” to your original charge.

9.                 What happens when I get to court?

·        Find out what courtroom your case is in.  The courtroom Division is listed at the bottom of your citation.

·        All Traffic Court starts at 1:30 p.m.

·        When your case is called, stand and go to the front the courtroom.

·        You must plead guilty or not guilty.

·        You will be required to post a bond.

·        If you go to court and you are found guilty, the total amount due will be more than the fine amount set by the judge or magistrate.  For example, if you go to court on a charge of failing to obey a stop sign, and the judge finds you guilty, the total amount due will be the fine, plus court costs.

10.               I lost my ticket.  What should I do?

·        Call the Traffic Ticket Office (985-873-6500) Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. with your name, date of birth and ticket number.

·        It normally takes 7 to 10 days for our office to receive a ticket from the date it was issued.

11.   How will this ticket affect my driving record?

·        For driving record information, you will need to contact the

Louisiana Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).  Call 1-877- 368-5463.

12.            What about my insurance?

·        Decisions about insurance rates and premiums are up to your    insurance company.

13.   How are fine amounts determined?

·        The judges and District Attorney set a schedule of fines for all violations each year

·        The fine amount only increases if you fail to plead Not Guilty or to pay the fine by the Pay Date on your ticket

     14.      What is the cost of my ticket if paid by the pay date listed on my ticket?

·        Click on Traffic Citation Violations Schedule  

The District Attorney reserves the right to prosecute and require court appearance on any charge in lieu of payment of fine and costs as set forth on this schedule.
A bench warrant fee shall be assessed when any fine and costs is paid after court appearance date.

*BW WARRANT $100.00 UNLESS NOTED OTHERWISE

TRAFFIC CITATION VIOLATIONS SCHEDULE