What does the same speeding allegation cost in different Louisiana courts? For an ordinary 10 mph over the limit scenario, three published schedules show fine-plus-cost amounts of $176.50, $181.00, and $197.75. That is a $21.25 spread between the lowest and highest posted amounts in this comparison.
These figures come from schedules available online when checked October 2, 2026. They are published reference amounts, not clerk-confirmed quotes for a particular 2026 citation. The comparison does not rank every Louisiana court or include insurance, attorney fees, late charges, or payment convenience fees.
Compare the same speed in the same posted limit
To keep the examples consistent, assume a 45 mph posted limit and ordinary speeding without an accident, school zone, active work zone, or separate charge. The speeds below map to each source’s stated bracket. The columns identify the court or parish schedule—not every ticket issued anywhere in that parish.
| Alleged speed in a 45 mph zone | 19th JDC, East Baton Rouge | Opelousas City Court | Plaquemines posted schedule |
|---|---|---|---|
| 55 mph: 10 over | $197.75 | $181.00 | $176.50 |
| 60 mph: 15 over | $207.75 | $191.00 | $186.50 |
| 65 mph: 20 over | $207.75 | $216.00 | $196.50 |
| 70 mph: 25 over | $217.75 | $231.00 | $216.50 |
The order changes as speed increases. At 10 mph over, East Baton Rouge’s district-court amount is the highest of these three. At 20 and 25 mph over, Opelousas’s amount is higher. One jurisdiction being more expensive in one bracket does not make it more expensive for every charge.
Where the figures come from
The East Baton Rouge Clerk’s 19th Judicial District Court schedule separates the fine from court costs. It lists $45 for 1–10 mph over, $55 for 11–20 mph over, and $65 for 21–30 mph over, with $152.75 in costs for each bracket. Our totals add those two components. Baton Rouge City Court is a different court and should not be assigned these district-court amounts.
The Opelousas City Court Fine & Cost Schedule lists totals for ordinary speeding in 45, 55, 60, or 70 mph zones. Its 1–10, 11–15, 16–20, and 21–25 mph brackets supply the four amounts above. Its school-zone and lower-speed-zone rows have different rules. An administrative camera notice also needs its own procedure and should not be priced from an officer-issued court schedule.
The public Plaquemines fine-and-cost PDF hosted by nCourt lists separate brackets for each posted limit. Its 45 mph rows produce the Plaquemines column. The Sheriff’s official payment page directs users to nCourt and provides help with a particular citation.
The Opelousas page and Plaquemines PDF do not display a clear effective date for these speeding rows. Some published schedules also retain older categories elsewhere on the page. Their availability today does not establish that every listed charge or assessment reflects the latest law. For that reason, the table reports what the sources publish and does not promise that the clerk will assess that amount in your case.
Why the fine alone is a poor price comparison
At 10 mph over, the East Baton Rouge example has a $45 fine but a $197.75 combined amount. Comparing that $45 fine with another court’s $181 total would create a misleading result. First determine whether a source lists the penalty alone, costs alone, or the combined amount.
Louisiana R.S. 32:641 permits district judges, with the district attorney’s consent, to adopt parishwide schedules within the penalties allowed by law. That helps explain why a statewide speeding rule does not produce one universal payable total. Court jurisdiction and the actual assessment remain essential.
Do not use this table for a work-zone or school-zone ticket
An active construction, maintenance, or repair zone with workers on site has a separate speeding penalty under current R.S. 32:57(H): a $500–$1,000 fine. The ordinary table above does not price that offense. Older web pages that simply tell readers to double a routine speeding fine can miss the current rule.
School-zone offenses, accidents, additional allegations, and mandatory appearances also require separate review. A schedule listing an amount for a speed does not establish that the driver is eligible to pay before court. Check the citation and the court’s instructions before treating any posted figure as an available settlement.
Confirm four things before paying
- The court handling the case. The town where you were stopped and the issuing agency do not substitute for the court named on the citation.
- The precise charge and alleged speed. Check the posted limit and any special-zone or accident information.
- The itemized total. Ask whether the quote includes court costs, payment fees, additional charges, or late assessments.
- The effect and eligibility of payment. The East Baton Rouge online procedure expressly treats payment as a guilty plea; verify the applicable procedure and whether an appearance is required.
If you want help comparing your actual ticket with the applicable court process, send our team the citation and any later notice. Our guide to where ticket money goes explains why the total you pay is also different from the amount a municipality ultimately retains.
Sources checked October 2, 2026. Calculations compare three published schedules for the stated ordinary speeding examples. No figure is presented as a statewide average, a guaranteed current case quote, or proof that a particular charge can be prepaid.