Facing a traffic ticket in Metairie? Don’t just pay it — pleading guilty can have lasting implications. Here’s what you need to know about facing the 1st Parish Jefferson Parish Traffic Court
Suppose you have to go to the 1st Parish Jefferson Parish Traffic Court. You know just how frustrating getting a traffic ticket can be. Not only was it a massive disruption on the day you received the ticket, but now you have to decide how you want to deal with the ticket itself.
As a Metairie traffic ticket lawyer, I face this question daily. I can help you decide how best to handle your ticket, whether in the 1st Parish Jefferson Parish Traffic Court or outside of it.
Often, people will think that paying their East Bank Jefferson Parish traffic ticket is the best way to put the situation behind them. But the fact of the matter is, if you are facing a traffic ticket, that means you are facing fines, increased insurance rates, and even the possibility of losing your driving privileges. There is too much on the line to leave it to chance.
The best thing you can do is consult an experienced Metairie Traffic Ticket Lawyer who can help fight your ticket in the 1st Parish Jefferson Parish Traffic Court.
The Law Office of Heather C. Ford can help resolve your traffic ticket as quickly as possible. Request a free consultation today.
Like most traffic courts in Louisiana, the 1st Parish Jefferson Parish Traffic Court is a two-appearance system. If you fight your ticket and pursue a lower charge or a dismissal, you will be required to make your first appearance to set the actual court date. Then, you will return on the agreed-upon date to speak with the Assistant District Attorney and the judge.
On your traffic ticket near the bottom, you will find your “appear by” date. You can show up at the court any time before this date — provided the ticket has already been entered into the system. Jefferson Parish states that it takes about two weeks for tickets to show up in the system.
You can search for your ticket online or call the court at (504)-736-8900 to ask if your ticket has been entered into the system or for any other information regarding your ticket, the process, and the ticket appearance date. When you arrive for the first date, you will go directly to the clerk’s office, speak with the clerk, and set your second parish court appearance date.
The 1st Parish Jefferson Parish Traffic Court is located at 924 David Dr, Metairie, LA 70003. This court’s jurisdiction covers offenses occurring in the East Bank of Jefferson Parish. The court is open from 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM Monday through Thursday and 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM on Friday, except legal holidays.
If you are going to the 1st Parish Jefferson Parish Traffic Court in the Metairie area, it is worth noting that there is free parking and usually plenty of it, so this is not usually a concern for most people going to Court here.
However, remember that they don’t usually let you bring your cell phone into the building, so make sure to leave that in the car or at home.
Once you have set the court date for your ticket, you will be placed into a division. Each division has its own judge, and the division you are placed in will likely determine the time you need to report for your court date.
As of the time of writing, the divisions of the East Bank Jefferson Parish Court are as follows:
Most (but not all) traffic tickets will be in Division T and set for 4:00 PM. Make sure to pay close attention, though, because you may be placed in a different division with an appearance time of 9:00 AM.
If you and the Assistant District Attorney come to an agreement at the time of your hearing, your next step will be to speak with the judge to set your payment plan. In Jefferson Parish, I have found that you usually have about two weeks to make your first payment. Then you can continue along with your payment plan until the fines have been completely paid off.
If you disagree with the Assistant District Attorney, you must go to trial. This is not common if this is your first time at the 1st Parish Jefferson Parish Traffic Court.
If you do go to trial, both you and the court are given the option of a courtesy continuance/postponement, and if either side requests that continuance, you will need to return for a third date to appear for your actual trial.
An experienced traffic ticket lawyer understands that your driving privileges can be your livelihood. If you are facing 1st Parish Jefferson Parish Traffic Court and are worried about having your license suspended, we can help!
Even if you live out of state, that is no problem. We will connect virtually to solve your traffic problems. Heather C. Ford is a highly experienced traffic ticket attorney who diligently advocates for your rights in 1st Parish Jefferson Parish Traffic Court.
Don’t be one of those people that say, “It’s only traffic court.” Especially if this is your first parish court appearance, increase the chances of this being a very smooth process by retaining a traffic court attorney.
The Law Office of Heather C. Ford will give you peace of mind if you face the prospect of dealing with the 1st Parish Jefferson Parish Traffic Court. She will attend Court and professionally and effectively represent you on your behalf in front of any prosecutors or judges.
Trust that your case will be handled with your best interests in mind. Text us a copy of your traffic tickets or request a free consultation to start building your defense.
Serving New Orleans and the surrounding area — We solve traffic problems
From speeding tickets to a long-term suspended license, we can help you. We are committed to making every client’s legal process as quick and efficient as possible. If you are facing the prospect of going to the 1st Parish Jefferson Parish Traffic Court — Contact our office immediately to schedule a consultation.
For more information on the parish courts and traffic courts in your area, click here.
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Avoid Anxiety:Don’t Just Pay It — Pleading Guilty Can Have Lasting Implications. We Can Help.
Between myself and my family, we keep Heather busy! She is very professional and knowledgeable. I have spent a lot of money and ruined my driving record paying off speeding tickets but when I found Heather, I found that she is the best
My experience with the Law Office of Heather C. Ford was outstanding. I would recommend this team to anyone that has received a traffic ticket in the metro New Orleans area....
I found Heather online after searching for a traffic lawyer. Since I am not from the area, I was not 100% sure but went with my gut after reading the positive comments. And I was right! I am really pleased with Heather Ford's...
I was thrilled when Heather was able to get my ticket reduced to a non-moving violation and the judge waived fees. I never thought that was possible. I was certain I'd have to pay something. She's great...
Ms. Ford is all that I could ask for in an advocate.
My experience has been as pleasurable as can be expected when you need a lawyer.
Yes, you can likely pay for your Jefferson Parish traffic ticket online although some tickets do require a mandatory appearance. Before you go ahead and do that, you need to first decide whether you SHOULD. Whether you are better off straight up paying your speeding ticket or pleading your case in court truly depends on your individual situation. It is important to remember that if you simply pay off your ticket, you are admitting guilt. This will mean a blemish on your driving record. If you drive for a living (for instance for Uber, or if you have your CDL) then a speeding ticket may cause employment issues. If this is the situation for you, or if you have had multiple infractions in the past and might be facing a suspended license it is always best to fight your ticket. Keeping your insurance rates from going up is another reason to consider fighting your ticket.
Your best path to beating a speeding ticket in First Parish Jefferson Parish is to work with an experienced traffic ticket attorney. When a speeding ticket lawyer goes to court to fight your ticket, their goal is to get the charges dismissed or lowered. Depending on the specifics of your case, they will either argue that the charges do not stand and as such the ticket should be dismissed altogether, or they will work to negotiate a lesser charge which would also mean a lesser fine.
The fines for a speeding ticket on the east bank in Jefferson Parish will depend on how many MPH over the speed limit the driver was going, as well as whether the incident occurred in a school or construction zone. For most speeding tickets, fines will range from around $235 to $485. When you are calculating the true cost of a speeding ticket First Parish located on the east bank of Jefferson Parish, however, you will also need to include long-term consequences such as increased insurance rates.
