Paying or Contesting a Traffic Ticket in Louisiana
How to pay, contest or reduce a traffic ticket in Louisiana, and what happens if you ignore it.
Short answer: Tickets are paid to, or contested in, the court listed on the ticket; the OMV does not take payment for tickets. Louisiana OMV, FAQs; Louisiana OMV, Suspensions
| Paying or fighting a ticket | Tickets are paid to, or contested in, the court listed on the ticket; the OMV does not take payment for tickets. If a driver fails to appear in court or to pay the fine on or before the court date, the court can order the OMV to suspend the license (R.S. 32:57.1). To clear that suspension the driver must show proof of compliance with the ticket number (paid receipt, final disposition, or a continuance with a new court date) and pay an OMV reinstatement fee ($100 for a Louisiana court case). |
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| License suspension | The OMV lists suspensions for, among other things: unpaid traffic tickets or failure to appear in court; nonpayment of child support; nonpayment of state income taxes; DWI arrests (failed or refused chemical tests) and DWI convictions; and driving while suspended (a one-year suspension). Reinstatement requires serving the suspension, showing proof of compliance, and paying the listed fee; DWI-related reinstatements also require SR-22 proof of insurance for 3 years and, in some cases, an ignition interlock. Source: Louisiana OMV, Suspensions |
Where to get help in Louisiana
More Louisiana traffic tickets & dui
- Reinstating a Driver's License in Louisiana
- DUI Laws in Louisiana
- How Driver Points Work in Louisiana
- All Louisiana traffic tickets & dui rules
FAQ
How do you pay or contest a traffic ticket in Louisiana?
Tickets are paid to, or contested in, the court listed on the ticket; the OMV does not take payment for tickets. If a driver fails to appear in court or to pay the fine on or before the court date, the court can order the OMV to suspend the license (R.S. 32:57.1). To clear that suspension the driver must show proof of compliance with the ticket number (paid receipt, final disposition, or a continuance with a new court date) and pay an OMV reinstatement fee ($100 for a Louisiana court case).
What gets your license suspended in Louisiana?
The OMV lists suspensions for, among other things: unpaid traffic tickets or failure to appear in court; nonpayment of child support; nonpayment of state income taxes; DWI arrests (failed or refused chemical tests) and DWI convictions; and driving while suspended (a one-year suspension). Reinstatement requires serving the suspension, showing proof of compliance, and paying the listed fee; DWI-related reinstatements also require SR-22 proof of insurance for 3 years and, in some cases, an ignition interlock.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.