What you pay for a Louisiana speeding ticket
A Louisiana speeding ticket costs between $175 and $1,000 in fines, depending on how far over the limit you were driving and whether you have prior violations. The fine structure is set by state law and does not vary by which officer wrote the ticket or which parish you were in. A first offense for driving 1 to 10 miles per hour over the limit typically costs $175 to $300. Driving 11 to 20 miles per hour over the limit usually runs $300 to $500. Speeds 21 miles per hour or more over the limit can reach $500 to $1,000.
On top of the fine itself, you will owe court costs and administrative fees. These vary by parish and can add $50 to $200 to your total bill. You may also face a surcharge — Louisiana adds a $10 victim information surcharge to most traffic convictions. If you were speeding in a school zone or construction zone, the fine doubles. If you have prior speeding convictions within the past three years, the court can increase the fine by up to 50 percent.
The total amount you owe is not final until you appear in court or pay a citation. If you pay the citation amount printed on the ticket without going to court, you are admitting guilt and the fine is set. If you contest the ticket in court, the judge can reduce, maintain, or increase the fine within the legal range.
Key Takeaways
- Louisiana speeding fines range from $175 for 1 to 10 miles per hour over the limit to $1,000 for 21 miles per hour or more over the limit, plus court costs and a $10 surcharge.
- Speeding in a school zone or construction zone doubles the base fine amount.
- Prior speeding convictions within three years can increase your fine by up to 50 percent.
- Court costs and administrative fees vary by parish and typically add $50 to $200 to the total.
- Paying the citation amount on the ticket without contesting it means you admit guilt and the fine becomes final.
How Louisiana calculates the base fine
Louisiana Revised Statutes Section 32:58 sets the fine schedule for speeding. The law divides violations into four categories based on how many miles per hour over the posted limit you were traveling. Each category has a minimum and maximum fine, and the judge or officer has discretion within that range.
For 1 to 10 miles per hour over the limit, the fine is $175 to $300. For 11 to 20 miles per hour over, it is $300 to $500. For 21 to 30 miles per hour over, it is $500 to $750. For more than 30 miles per hour over the limit, it is $750 to $1,000. The officer or judge typically assigns a fine somewhere in the middle of the range for a first offense with no aggravating factors.
The speed limit that matters is the one posted where you were driving, not the one you thought applied. If you were on a highway marked 65 mph and driving 80 mph, you are 15 miles per hour over, which falls into the 11 to 20 category. If the same speed on a residential street marked 25 mph, you are 55 miles per hour over, which is the highest category.
School zone and construction zone penalties
Speeding in a school zone — typically defined as within 500 feet of a school building during school hours or when children are present — doubles the base fine. If you would normally pay $250 for speeding 15 miles per hour over the limit, you pay $500 in a school zone. The doubling applies to the base fine only, not to court costs or surcharges.
Speeding in a construction zone also doubles the fine. Construction zones are marked with orange signs and are active only when workers are present. Some parishes enforce construction zone penalties only during daylight hours or only when equipment is visible. The ticket should specify whether the violation occurred in a construction zone; if you believe it did not, you can contest that in court.
If you were speeding in both a school zone and a construction zone simultaneously — which is rare — the fine still doubles once, not twice. The doubling is applied to the base fine, and then court costs and surcharges are added on top.
Prior convictions and how they increase your fine
If you have a prior speeding conviction within the past three years, Louisiana law allows the court to increase your current fine by up to 50 percent. A conviction means you either pleaded guilty, paid the citation, or were found guilty after trial. A ticket you received but have not yet resolved does not count as a prior conviction.
The court looks at your driving record, which the officer can access at the time of the stop. If you have two or more prior speeding convictions in three years, the court can still only increase the fine by up to 50 percent — there is no additional multiplier for multiple priors. The increase is discretionary, meaning the judge can choose to explore it or not.
If you have a prior reckless driving conviction or a prior conviction for speeding more than 30 miles per hour over the limit, those can also influence how the judge sentences you on a new speeding charge. These are separate from the 50 percent increase and can result in higher fines, license suspension, or even jail time in extreme cases.
Court costs and parish-specific fees
Beyond the fine itself, you owe court costs and administrative fees that vary by parish. These typically range from $50 to $200 and cover the cost of processing the ticket, maintaining the court system, and funding victim information programs. Some parishes charge a flat fee; others charge a percentage of the fine. A few parishes charge more for violations that occur on state highways versus local roads.
The ticket you receive should list the court costs separately from the fine. If it does not, you can ask the court clerk or the officer what the total amount due is. When you pay online or by mail, the court will specify the total including all fees. If you go to court and the judge reduces your fine, the court costs usually remain the same — they are not reduced proportionally.
Some parishes offer traffic school or defensive driving courses that can reduce or dismiss the ticket if you complete the course. The course itself costs money — typically $50 to $150 — but can prevent the fine from appearing on your record. Not all parishes offer this option, and not all violations are may be able to access.
License points and insurance impact
Louisiana assigns demerit points to your driving record for speeding. A speeding conviction adds 3 points to your record. If you accumulate 12 points within a 12-month period, your license is suspended for 30 days. If you accumulate 18 points within 18 months, your license is suspended for 90 days. These points stay on your record for three years from the date of conviction.
The demerit points are separate from the fine. Even if you pay the citation and avoid court, the points are added to your record. The only way to avoid points is to have the ticket dismissed or to contest it in court and win. Some traffic school programs can reduce or remove points if you complete the course, depending on your parish.
Insurance companies use your driving record to set your rates. A speeding conviction typically increases your premium by 10 to 30 percent for three years. The exact increase depends on your insurer and your prior history. Multiple violations within a short time can result in higher increases or cancellation of your policy.
How to pay or contest your ticket
When you receive a speeding ticket in Louisiana, you have three options: pay the citation, go to traffic court, or request a continuance to gather information. The citation will show a due date, usually 30 days from the date of the ticket. If you do not respond by that date, a warrant can be issued for your arrest.
If you pay the citation amount shown on the ticket, you are admitting guilt and the fine is final. You do not have to go to court. Payment can usually be made online through your parish court's website, by mail, or in person at the courthouse. Some parishes accept payment by phone or through a third-party payment processor.
If you want to contest the ticket, you must appear in traffic court on or before the due date. You can request a continuance if you need more time to prepare. At trial, the officer must prove you were speeding. You can cross-examine the officer about how the speed was measured, whether the radar or laser gun was calibrated, and whether the speed limit sign was visible. If the officer does not appear, the ticket is usually dismissed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a speeding ticket dismissed if the officer does not show up to court?
Yes. If the officer does not appear at your trial date, the judge will typically dismiss the ticket. You must appear in court yourself; if you do not show up, the judge can find you guilty in your absence. Some parishes allow you to request a continuance if the officer is not present, which gives them another chance to appear.
Does paying the ticket mean I admit guilt?
Yes. When you pay the citation amount without going to court, you are admitting guilt and the conviction goes on your record. This adds demerit points and can increase your insurance rates. Contesting the ticket in court does not may provide you will win, but it gives you the chance to challenge the evidence.
What if I was speeding because of an emergency?
Louisiana law does not have a specific emergency exception to speeding laws. However, you can explain the circumstances to the judge in court, and the judge has discretion to reduce the fine or dismiss the ticket. The judge is not required to do so, but they can consider the reason you were speeding when deciding on a sentence.
How long does a speeding conviction stay on my record?
Demerit points stay on your driving record for three years from the date of conviction. The conviction itself can stay on your criminal record longer, depending on whether you request expungement. After three years, the points no longer count toward license suspension, but the conviction may still be visible to insurance companies and employers.
Can I take traffic school to reduce my fine?
Some Louisiana parishes offer traffic school or defensive driving courses that can reduce or dismiss the ticket if you complete the course. Not all parishes offer this option, and not all violations are may be able to access. You must ask the court clerk or check your parish court's website to see if the program is available for your violation.