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?
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?
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?
**TRAFFIC TICKETS CAN BE PAID ONLINE**
·
Pay in Person – Traffic Department, 2nd 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?
·
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 $100.00.
·
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?)
·
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. withyour name, date of birth and ticket number.
· It normally takes 10 to 15 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 or 1-225-925-6146.
·
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.
| APPEARANCE BOND | TITLE | OFFENSE | COSTS + FINES |
|
RS: |
|
||
| $500.00 | 14:96 | Aggravated Obstruction of Highway of Commerce |
MUST APPEAR IN COURT |
| $500.00 | 14:97 | Simple Obstruction of Highway |
$221.00 |
| $500.00 | 14:98 | DWI |
MUST APPEAR IN COURT |
| $500.00 | 14:99 | Reckless Operation (No Accident) |
$211.00 |
| $500.00 | 14:99 | Reckless Operation (With Accident) |
MUST APPEAR IN COURT |
| $500.00 | 14:100 | Hit & Run | MUST APPEAR IN COURT |
| $500.00 | 32:51
(47:508) |
Vehicle License Required- No License Plate | $236.00 BW $63.00 = $299.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:52 | Unlicensed drivers |
$186.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:53 | Vehicle Proper Equipment (Lights, Tires, etc.) |
$201.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:53D | No MVI | $161.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:55 | Unauthorized Driving Highways (Posted or Under Construction) |
$221.00 BW $78.00 = $299.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:56 | Obedience to Police and Traffic Controls |
$201.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:58 | Careless Operation |
$181.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:61 | SPEEDING: |
$176.00 $186.00 $206.00 MUST APPEAR IN COURT |
| $500.00 | 32:64 | Speeding Prima Faca (Impeding the Flow of Traffic) |
$176.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:65 | Drag Racing (Excessive Acceleration) |
$231.00 BW $68.00 = $299.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:71 | Driving on Right |
$221.00 BW $78.00 = $299.00 |
| $500.00 |
32:72 32:73 32:74 32:75 |
Passing Vehicles On the Right On the Left |
$221.00 BW $78.00 = $299.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:76 | Limitation on Passing on Left |
$221.00 BW $78.00 = $299.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:77 | No Passing Zone (No Accident) |
$221.00 BW $78.00 = $299.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:77 | No Passing Zone (With Accident) |
MUST APPEAR IN COURT |
| $500.00 | 32:78 | One Way Traffic |
$221.00 BW $78.00 = $299.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:79 | Driving on Roadway Lanes for Traffic |
$171.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:80 | Overtaking and Passing School Bus | MUST APPEAR IN COURT |
| $500.00 | 32:81 | Following Too Close |
$171.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:82 | Improper Driving on Divided Highway |
$171.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:101 32:102 |
Improper Turns |
$171.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:103 | Improper Moving of Parked Vehicle(s) |
$171.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:104 | Improper Turning and Required Signals |
$171.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:105 32:106 |
Signals by Hand & Arm or Signal Lamps |
$171.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:121 | Failure to Yield Right of Way (No Signs) |
$171.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:122 | Failure to yield when turning left at intersection |
$171.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:123 | Stop Sign Violation |
$171.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:124 | Failure to yield when entering highway from private drive, etc. |
$171.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:125 | Failure to yield to emergency vehicle |
$221.00 BW $78.00 = $299.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:141 | Improper stopping, standing, or parking outside business or residential dist. or on highway |
$171.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:143 | Improper stopping or parking in specified places |
$171.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:144 | Improper parking (General) |
$171.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:145 | Unattended vehicle |
$181.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:171 | Obedience to signal indicating approach of trains |
$181.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:172 | Failure to stop at R/R Crossing |
$181.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:173 | Certain vehicles must stop at R/R Crossing |
$181.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:174 | Moving heavy equipment R/R Crossing |
$181.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:190 | Operation of motorcycles and bicycles with No Helmet |
$50.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:190.1 | Operation of motorcycles without Eye Protection |
$50.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:191 THRU 32:197 |
All motorcycles and violations |
$181.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:211 | Pedestrians right and duties |
$146.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:214 | Driver to Exercise Due Care |
$166.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:231 32:232 32:234 |
Failure to observe and obey traffic control signs |
$181.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:233 | Pedestrian control signals |
$181.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:236 | Unauthorized signs prohibited |
$181.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:237 | Violating instructions of barricades |
$181.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:252 | Vehicles Transporting Explosives | MUST APPEAR IN COURT |
| $500.00 | 32:281 | Improper Backing |
$171.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:282 | Obstruction of drivers view or driving mechanism |
$171.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:283 | Improper Opening Doors |
$171.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:284 | Riding in H/Trailer on Fenders, etc. |
$171.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:286 | Following Emergency Vehicles too Close |
$221.00 BW $78.00 = $299.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:287 | Crossing over fire hose(s) |
$221.00 BW $78.00 = $299.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:288 | Drive through a Safety Zone |
$221.00 BW $78.00 = $299.00 |
| $500.00 | 30:2531 |
Littering |
$171.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:295 | Child Restraint: |
$100.00 $250.00 $500.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:295.1 | Adult Seat Belt |
$50.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:295.2 | Wearing Headphones | $151.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:296 | Parked on Hwy Shoulder | $171.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:297 | Low Rider | $171.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:300 | Possession of Open Alcohol Container | $171.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:300.4 | Smoking in Vehicle | $171.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:300.5 | Texting While Driving 1st Offense
|
$201.00 MUST APPEAR IN COURT |
| $500.00 | 32:300.6 | Use of Wireless Device Prohibited |
$151.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:301 | Driving without lights |
$221.00 BW $78.00 = $299.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:301.3 | No lights on While Operating Wipers | $25.00 |
| $500.00 |
32:302 THRU 32:331 |
Lights & Reflectors Violations |
$171.00 |
| $500.00 |
32:341 THRU 32:346 |
Brake Violations |
$171.00 |
| $500.00 |
32:351 THRU 32:359 |
Improper Equipment, Mufflers, Horns, etc. |
$171.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:361.1 | View Tinted Windows Painted Dark Color |
$181.00 BW $93.00 = $274.00 |
| $500.00 |
32:362 THRU 32:364 |
Other Improper Equipment |
$171.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:365 | T.V. Front Dashboard | $171.00 |
| $500.00 |
32:366 THRU 32:378 |
Required Equipment on Certain Vehicles (Flares, Flags, etc.) |
$181.00 BW $118.00 = $299.00 |
| $500.00 |
32:379 THRU 32:389 |
Size, Weight, Height of Vehicle |
$246.00 BW $48.00 = $294.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:383 | Unsecure Load | $246.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:391 | Written Promise To Appear |
$181.00 BW $118.00 = $299.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:398 | Failure to Report Accident with Injury | MUST APPEAR IN COURT |
| $500.00 | 32:398 | Failure to Report Accident without Injury |
$221.00 BW $78.00 = $299.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:402 THRU 32:413 |
Driver License Violations (No D/L on Person), (Expired D/L) |
$171.00 |
| $500.00 | 32.414.1 | Unlawful Use of D/L Hardship License Violation |
MUST APPEAR IN COURT |
| $500.00 | 32:415 | Driving Under Suspension | MUST APPEAR IN COURT |
| $500.00 | 32:417 | Allowed Unlicensed Driver to Drive | MUST APPEAR IN COURT |
| $500.00 | 32:423 | Drivers License Restrictions |
$171.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:478 | Failure to Have Name and Address on Truck |
$161.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:861 | No Insurance |
$191.00 BW $109.00 = $300.00 |
| $500.00 | 32:1301 THRU 32:53 D |
Expired Inspection Certificate No MVI |
$151.00
$161.00 |
| $500.00 | 40:1390 | Interfering w/Duties of Police Officer |
$211.00 |
| $500.00 | 47:501 | Failure to Secure Registration |
$161.00 |
| $500.00 | 47:505 | Misuse of License Plate |
$161.00 |
| $500.00 | 47:506 | No Registration in Possession |
$161.00 |
| $500.00 | 47:507 | Failure to Display License |
REPEALED BY ACT 148 EFFECTIVE 8/1/14 USING CODE 32:53 |
| $500.00 | 47:508 | Expired License Plate |
$161.00 |
| $500.00 | 47:519 | Misuse of a Temporary Tag |
$161.00 |
| $500.00 | 47:536 | Switched License Plate | MUST APPEAR IN COURT |
| $500.00 | 47:536.2 | Cancelled Plate | $221.00 BW $68.00 = $289.00 |
| APPEARANCE BOND | TITLE | OFFENSE |
COSTS + FINES |
|
RS: |
|
||
| 4-3 | Alcoholic Bev. Closing Hours |
$150.00 |
|
| 4-4 | Location Restrictions |
$150.00 |
|
| 4-33 | Open Containers |
$150.00 |
|
| 4-51 | Alcohol Permit |
$150.00 |
|
Animals |
|||
| 5-25 | Tag and Collar |
$128.00 |
|
| 5-26 | Restraint |
$128.00 |
|
| 5-31 | Rabies Control |
MUST APPEAR IN COURT |
|
| 5-36 | Interference |
MUST APPEAR IN COURT |
|
| 5-39 | Dog & Domestic Animal Noise Control |
$128.00 |
|
| 5-76 | Running At Large Prohibited |
$128.00 |
|
| Fire Protection & Prevention |
|
||
| 8-1 | Setting Fires |
MUST APPEAR IN COURT |
|
| 8-2 | Fireworks Sale and Use Prohibited |
MUST APPEAR IN COURT |
|
| 8-3 | Bayou Cane Fire District Codes |
MUST APPEAR IN COURT |
|
|
|
Garbage, Trash, Hazardous Waste And Weeds |
|
|
| 11-1 | Dumping In Waterways |
$216.00 |
|
| 11-2 | Storage Of Unsightly Material |
$150.00 |
|
| 11-30 | Littering, Setting Fires, Etc. |
MUST APPEAR IN COURT |
|
| 11-102 | Prohibition, Tall Grass, Trash |
$150.00 |
|
Junk And Abandoned Vehicles |
|
||
| 14-27 | Prohibition |
$216.00 |
|
| 14-72 | Improper Driving on Divided Highway |
$216.00 |
|
Licenses And Miscellaneous Business Regulations |
|||
| 16-53 | Unlawful Solicitation |
MUST APPEAR IN COURT |
|
| 16-253 | Convenience Store Regulations |
MUST APPEAR IN COURT |
|
Motor Vehicles and Traffic |
|||
| 18 | Other Parking |
$165.00 |
|
| 18-7 | Tampering With Street Signs |
$175.00 |
|
| 18-197 | Handicapped Parking Zones |
$145.00 |
|
| 18-198 | Fire Protection Areas |
$175.00 |
|
Offenses, Miscellaneous Law Enforcement
Provisions |
|
||
| 19-2 | Discharging Of Weapons |
$175.00 |
|
| 19-3 | Curfew For Minors |
$150.00 |
|
| 19-5 | Excessive, Unnecessary Noise, Noisemaking |
$218.00 MUST APPEAR IN COURT MUST APPEAR IN COURT |
|
| 19-8 | Unlawful Use of 911 |
MUST APPEAR IN COURT |
|
| 19-11 | Laser Pointers |
MUST APPEAR IN COURT |
|
| 19-12 | Silly String Sales |
MUST APPEAR IN COURT |
|
| 19-26 | Barricades And Other Crowd Restraining |
MUST APPEAR IN COURT |
|
| 19-99 | Throwing Objects At Float Riders |
MUST APPEAR IN COURT |
|
| 19-100 | Following Band Floats |
MUST APPEAR IN COURT |
|
| 19-101 | Glass Containers |
MUST APPEAR IN COURT |
|
| 19-102 | Silly String Use |
MUST APPEAR IN COURT |
|
| 19-122 | Police Dogs |
MUST APPEAR IN COURT |
|
| 19-219 | Wearing Hood Or Mask |
MUST APPEAR IN COURT |
|
| 19-244 | Open Glass |
MUST APPEAR IN COURT |
|
| 19-251 | Loitering |
$145.00 |
|
Recreation And
Parks |
|||
| 21-1 | Curfew Hours Parks Playgrounds |
$145.00 |
|
| 21-28 | Closing Hours Parish Court Square |
$145.00 |
|
| 21-32 | Bridge Loitering |
$145.00 |
|
| 21-298 | Abandonment Of Sunken Vehicles |
MUST APPEAR IN COURT |