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Traffic
Tickets

The goal of District Attorney Donald D, Landry and his Assistant District Attorneys in the 15th Judicial District traffic division is to make sure you are in compliance with the existing traffic laws to ensure safe streets for all the citizens of Lafayette Parish to utilize and enjoy.

Violations

 

The Office of the District Attorney prosecutes violations of state traffic laws occurring within Lafayette Parish.  Many Lafayette City traffic violations are written as municipal city ordinance violations which will be prosecuted by the Office of the District Attorney in Lafayette City Court.

 

If your ticket was issued by a police officer under the state traffic laws found in Title 32 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes, then your ticket will be prosecuted in the 15th Judicial District Court by the Office of the District Attorney.

 

The 15th Judicial District Court prosecutes traffic tickets and misdemeanor traffic crimes investigated by the following law enforcement agencies:

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Lafayette City Court prosecutes traffic tickets and misdemeanor traffic crimes investigated by the following law enforcement agency:

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District traffic tickets are to be paid to or at the Lafayette Parish Government Building.  CASH or MONEY ORDER only! 

 

Phone: 337-236-5880
Physical:  1010 Lafayette Street, 4th floor, Lafayette, LA 70501
Mailing:  P.O. Drawer 92590, Lafayette, LA 70509

 

Traffic Assistant District Attorneys

  • Travis Mose, ADA Lafayette

  • Halli Kennerson, ADA Lafayette

 

District Court Contact Information

  • Phone: (337) 232-5170

    • District Court Driving While Intoxicated Inquiries and District Court Traffic Inquiries

  • Fax: (337) 235-1354

 

City Court Contact Information

  • Phone: (337) 291-5578 for City Court Driving While Intoxicated Inquiries

  • Fax:  (337) 291-5596

 

If you have traffic-related questions you may:

 

Pre Trial Diversion

 

Traffic diversion is available for certain defendants charged with Driving While Intoxicated and/or traffic offenses.  The program enables the defendant to avoid a conviction while being held accountable for his or her violation of the law through supervision, payment of costs and fines, participation in educational or treatment programs and other requirements as warranted.  Upon successful completion of the program, charges are dismissed.

 

If the Assistant District Attorney (A.D.A.) finds probable cause for the offense for which the defendant was arrested and the A.D.A. determines that the defendant qualifies for pretrial intervention, the A.D.A. will file a bill of information and then refer the file to Pre trial intervention.

 

Two Intervention Services are available for TRAFFIC offenses handled by the Office of the 15th Judicial

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  1. Pretrial Dismissal – In the event of a non-collision/accident, minor, non-status (suspension, revocation, license &/or inspection) traffic ticket and a clean traffic and driving record and NO prior dismissals of previous traffic tickets, the driver will receive notice of eligibility and instructions on enrolling and completing the District Attorney for the 15th Judicial District Driver’s Intervention Program.  This will require attendance at an online course, review of educational materials and the taking & passing of an online examination.  Upon completion the traffic charge will be dismissed.

  2. L.C.Cr.P. Art 892.1 Dismissal – In the event of any other traffic ticket/offense and all issues are resolved regarding the offense, clean driving record with no prior successful completion of any driver’s education, training or improvement course, the defendant will receive notice of eligibility for an Article 892.1 and instructions on enrolling and completing the program authorized and directed by the District Judges for the 15th Judicial District.  This will require compliance of the terms of the program as administered by the District Judges for the 15th Judicial District.   The defendant will pay the fine, court costs & fees.  Upon completion, the conviction will be set aside and the traffic charge will be dismissed.

 

Driving While Intoxicated Pretrial Intervention Service is available for defendants, whom, at the sole discretion of the prosecuting Assistant District Attorney assigned to the case, are determined to be eligible.  Defendants with any of the following will NOT be screened for Pretrial Intervention Services, as the following non-exhaustive list excludes any consideration into the program:

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  1. Any prior arrests or convictions for Driving while intoxicated, underage driving while intoxicated, other related alcohol offenses such as vehicular negligent injuring, felony hit and run, or similar misdemeanor or felonies, OR a conviction or plea resulting from a reduction of such a charge;

  2. Prior participation in a Driving while Intoxicated diversion or intervention program, or other informally deferred prosecution for such;

  3. Unresolved liability issues or outstanding restitution arising from an accident related to the arrest;

  4. Any involvement in this case or other past and/or present cases that involve serious injuries or fatalities, crimes of violence and/or other serious collateral charges.

 

Upon referral by the Assistant District Attorney, intervention services will further evaluate the offender for entry into the program.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

What options do I have when I receive a traffic citation?

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  1. You may pay the citation before the court date (at the address listed on the citation) or

  2. Appear in court for your arraignment date to contest the citation and you will receive a trial date.

 

What if I want to speak with an Assistant District Attorney about my ticket before my court date?

 

Please call our office at (337) 232-5170 and ask to speak with the Traffic Division, at least 3 days before your scheduled court date.

 

How do I contest my ticket?

 

If you want to plead not guilty and request a trial, you must come to court on your first court date. There are usually many people listed on each docket, so please be prepared to wait. When you are called by the prosecutor, you may plead “not guilty” and request a trial date. The Judge will assign you a trial date.

 

How can I get a traffic ticket dismissed?

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  1. Fight the ticket in court & be found not guilty

  2. Intervention Services:

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  • Traffic – Two Intervention Services are available for TRAFFIC offenses handled by the Office of the 15th Judicial District Attorney:   Pretrial Dismissal & Article 892.1 Dismissal (Please refer to these sections on the website for more information on each).

  • DWI Offense – Pretrial Intervention Service is available for defendants, whom, at the sole discretion of the prosecuting Assistant District Attorney assigned to the case, are determined to be eligible (Please refer to this section on the website for more information).

 

What if I have a Louisiana CDL and get a traffic ticket?

 

Just like any other driver, you’ll plead guilty or no contest and pay your fine and court costs, or you can plead not guilty and fight the ticket in court.  The only “extra” things CDL Drivers need to remember are:

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  • To notify his or her employer within 30 days of receiving the citation;

  • That guilty pleas or verdicts can damage their career, depending on the violation.

 

What is the cost of my traffic ticket?

 

Your total traffic ticket costs vary by the actual traffic ticket fine & court costs, which varies by violation.

 

This is my first traffic ticket, can I get it reduced to a non-moving violation? 

 

No; However, in the event of a non-collision/accident, minor, non-status (suspension, revocation, license &/or inspection) traffic ticket and a clean traffic and driving record and NO prior dismissals of previous traffic tickets, the driver will receive notice of eligibility and instructions on enrolling and completing the District Attorney for the 15th Judicial District Driver’s Intervention Program.  This will require attendance at an online course, review of educational materials and the taking & passing of an online examination.  Upon completion the traffic charge will be dismissed.

 

District Attorney for the 15th Judicial District Driver’s Intervention Program.  This will require attendance at an online course, review of educational materials and the taking & passing of an online examination. 

Upon completion the traffic charge will be dismissed.

 

What happens if I miss my court date?

 

Should you miss your traffic trial date, the court will issue a warrant for your arrest called a “bench warrant.”  To have this warrant recalled, you will need to personally appear in court.

 

What is a “bench warrant?”

 

 

A “bench warrant” is a warrant for your arrest issued by a judge from the bench when you fail to appear after receiving a court ordered subpoena or other notices, including a summons from a law enforcement officer or a traffic citation.

 

A “bench warrant” will generally only be recalled when you personally appear before the judge who issued it.

 

If you have a “bench warrant” outstanding for your arrest, you should promptly go the courtroom of the judge who issued it and provide the judge with your reason for not previously appearing.  If the reason you did not appear was due to a medical reason, please bring medical documentation with you

 

How and where do I pay my traffic ticket in District Court?

 

District traffic tickets are to be paid to or at the Lafayette Parish Government Building.  CASH or MONEY ORDER only!  There is NO ONLINE payment system.  Contact information is as follows:

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  • Phone: 337-236-5880

  • Physical:  1010 Lafayette Street, 4th floor, Lafayette, LA 70501

  • Mailing:  P.O. Drawer 92590, Lafayette, LA 70509 

 

I received a traffic ticket by Lafayette City police, where do I pay it? 

 

CITY police TRAFFIC tickets are handled by the Lafayette City Prosecutor’s office and can be paid at Lafayette City Court.

 

I received a Lafayette SafeLight/SafeSpeed ticket, where do I go to contest/pay?

 

These tickets are NOT handled by the District Attorney’s office.  For more information please visit their website.

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