Louisiana’s school zone speed limits are twenty miles per hour in all school zones, except university campuses. A university will have speed limits posted that may be higher or lower than a traditional school zone. If you exceed the limit, a school zone speeding ticket is 50% higher than a standard fine.
Multiple violations may also be assessed. Commonly, drivers are on their cell phones in the school zone and speeding at the same time. If this is the case, the penalties and fines can be substantial.
New Orleans has made traffic ordinances more severe in the city. The fines for speeding in a school zone are levied on a graded scale. The faster you’re going, the higher the fine. Penalties will follow, or you may be able to negotiate a lower or dropped charge.
If you’re speeding in a posted school zone, the fines are substantially higher than if you were driving in a non-school zone. The graded scale for speeding in a school zone is:
When you’re caught speeding 20 MPH or higher over the posted speed limit, you’ll have to make a personal appearance in front of the court. The severity of the fine and penalties will be determined at your appearance. The fines assessed by the court need to be appropriate and reasonable.
The seriousness of the violation has led to local police departments deploying several methods to detect speeding. Radar is common as well as unmarked vehicles. Maintaining the speed limit in a school zone is of the utmost importance. Speeding can cause significant injury or death if you collide with an auto or child.
Be on the lookout for posted signage that mentions school zone hours and speed limits.
If you’re outside the school’s hours, as posted on the sign, you can maintain your normal speed.
Imprisonment is possible, typically 30 days or less for the first infraction, and 90 days or less for multiple infractions. Violations can add 25%+ to your premiums until the violation drops from your license.
If you’re on your phone or texting at the time of the speeding ticket, you may also face a significant fine for this violation. Using a cellphone in a school zone can result in a $500 fine for a first offense as an adult and much higher for multiple offenses.
Penalties, if there wasn’t a serious accident involved, are a monetary fine and will not involve jail time. You can choose to:
If you miss your court date, you may be in contempt of court, which is a serious fine, potential license suspension, and possible arrest.
Respond to your ticket in 15 days of the infraction to alert the court of your intentions. Paying the fine is the simplest method, but it’s also a guilty plea. You can request a mitigation or contested hearing.
An attorney will be able to appear in court and negotiate on your behalf. The goal is to negotiate a lower charge or have the charges dropped if possible. In both cases, you’ll enjoy lower insurance premiums and a possible violation dropped.
Speeding is a serious violation, but when you’re in a school zone, the severity rises even further. Drivers should pay attention to posted school zone hours, typically 7 to 8:45 am and 2 to 4:45 pm.
You’re up against serious charges due to the school zone designation.
Speak with an attorney immediately following the infraction to build a defense for your case and lower the charges against you. We’ll protect your driving privileges, try to lower costs, and keep violations on your license low.
The goal is to keep misdemeanor traffic violations off of your record.
The Law Office of Heather C. Ford will give you peace of mind in your school zone speeding ticket case. She will professionally and effectively represent 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 school zone speeding ticket or request a free consultation to start building your defense.
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From a speeding ticket to a long term suspended license, we can help you. We are committed to making the legal process as quick and efficient as possible for every client. If you have received a school zone speeding ticket or any other traffic violation — Contact our office immediately to schedule a consultation.
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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.
The process of fighting a speeding ticket in a school zone is similar to fighting any other traffic violation. You will need to appear in court and plead your case. This can be both challenging and time-consuming, which is why many people opt to work with an experienced traffic ticket attorney who will fight their ticket on their behalf.
In Louisiana, the standard speed limit in a school zone is 20 MPH. University campuses are the exclusion to this, as they may set the speed limit higher or lower if they wish.
The fee for a speeding ticket in New Orleans will range from $157.50 to $282.50 and in a school zone these fines will be 50% higher!
