If you are facing the prospect of going to New Orleans Traffic Court, you know just how frustrating getting a traffic ticket can be. Not only was it a huge 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 New Orleans traffic ticket lawyer, we face this question every single day and can help you decide how best to handle your ticket whether in the Traffic Court of New Orleans or outside of it.
Oftentimes, people will think that simply paying their New Orleans 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 for you to do is consult an experienced New Orleans Speeding Ticket Lawyer who can help fight your ticket in New Orleans Traffic Court. The Law Office of Heather C. Ford can help resolve your traffic ticket as quickly as possible. Request a free consultation today.
The New Orleans Traffic Court is a two appearance system. You will be required to make your first appearance in order to set your court date, then you will return on your actual court date to speak with the Assistant City Attorney and the judge.
At the bottom of your ticket, you will find your “appear by” date. You are allowed to show up at the court any time before this date so long as the ticket has already been entered into the system (which can sometimes take a few weeks). You can simply call the court to ask if your ticket has been entered into the system or ask for any other information regarding your ticket and the process. When you arrive for the first date, you will go directly to the clerk’s office, speak with the clerk, and set your second appearance date.
The New Orleans Traffic Court and Municipal Court is located at 1601 Perdido St, New Orleans, LA 70122 and is right underneath the underpass behind the big court that everybody knows — the criminal court at Tulane and Broad St.
If you are going to the New Orleans Traffic Court and Municipal Court, you will want to bear in mind that there are no free parking lots around the traffic court. There is a very small amount of parking in the neighborhood near the courts for free, but be very careful, and make sure to read all signs in the area (for example, there is a lot behind the New Orleans Traffic Court that is NOT for public use and will not hesitate to boot you). There are paid lots in the area, some of which are as low as $5 for the day.
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 determine what time you will need to appear on your court date. As of the time of writing, the divisions are broken down as follows:
If at the time of your hearing, you and the Assistant City Attorney come to an agreement, you will then need to speak with the judge in order to set your payment plan. Generally, you will have thirty days to make your first payment and then you can pay every month online until the fines have been completely paid off.
If you do not come to an agreement with the Assistant City Attorney, you will need to go to trial. This is not a very common occurrence if this is your first time at New Orleans 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 in order to appear for your trial.
An experienced traffic ticket lawyer understands that your driving privileges can be your livelihood. If you are facing New Orleans 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 that will diligently advocate for your rights in New Orleans Traffic Court.
The Law Office of Heather C. Ford will give you peace of mind if you are facing the prospect of dealing with the New Orleans Traffic Court. She will 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 surrounding area — We solve traffic problems
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 are facing the prospect of going to the Traffic Court of New Orleans — 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.
Yes, you can likely pay for your New Orleans 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 New Orleans 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 in New Orleans 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 be around $302.50
