If you’ve recently received a speeding ticket, you’re not alone. In America, over 40-million speeding tickets are given out each year.
The average cost of these tickets is between $115 and $135, but higher costs are possible, especially if it’s not your first time getting ticketed. The higher a road risk you’re seen as, the more your fine is likely to be.
If you’ve been given a speeding ticket in Louisiana, you might be wondering the average Louisiana speeding ticket cost. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about Louisiana’s speeding ticket costs.
Louisiana Speeding Ticket Cost
Speeding tickets in Louisiana and the state of New Orleans, in general, vary greatly. It all depends on how far over the speed limit you were going in a given zone.
Here are some guidelines.
Speeding Ticket Prices
The lowest possible ticket price you’re looking at is around $115. You can get a ticket at this pricepoint for going between 1 and 9 miles over the legal limit. That price remains the same whether you’re on a general road, or in a school zone.
If you’re caught going 10-14 miles over the limit, you’re looking at a heftier price of $215. If you’re caught going 15-20 miles over, that’ll get you an additional $25, raising your total to $240.
If you impede traffic by speeding, you’re going to get a general ticket worth $157.50.
If you’re caught going 20 miles per hour or over at any time, you’re looking at a mandatory court appearance. The court will then decide a proper punishment for your crime.
It’s important to note that the numbers above are all minimum ticket costs. You may see a higher ticket price if you broke other laws while speeding, or if the police officer sees fit.
When and How Do I Pay?
You should pay for your speeding ticket as soon as possible if you’re not going to court. Generally, you’re given 15 days to pay the fine.
You can pay your tickets online, by phone, or in-person at the sheriff’s office. The back of your ticket should describe how and when you can pay.
What Happens If My Speeding Ticket Goes Through?
If you end up paying the speeding ticket, you may see your insurance rates shoot up. The more tickets and driving infractions you get, the more your insurance rates will rise. Considering how expensive car insurance is already, it’s best to do all you can to minimize this.
One analysis shows your insurance could increase by 12% on average for going between 15 and 29 miles over the limit. For 30 miles over, that increases to 15%. Again, these are just minimums and averages, so you could be looking at less or more depending on your case.
With enough speeding tickets and road infractions, you could be looking at demerit points on your license. This could lead to a license suspension, which can seriously impede your day-to-day life.
What Should I Do If I Get Caught Speeding?
Just because you’re caught speeding in Louisiana doesn’t automatically mean you’re guilty. It’s always a good idea to combat a speeding ticket, especially if it’s higher than you deem fair.
If you’ve been given an unfair ticket, contact a speeding ticket attorney as soon as possible. They’ll be able to look into the finer details of your case and point you in the right direction. They’ll advise you on the next logical steps, and whether you have a case worth fighting.
In some instances, your best move might be to plead guilty. In other cases, though, you may be able to prove your innocence.
Possible Ways to Get out of a Ticket
The most hassle-free way to get out of a speeding ticket is to talk with the police officer.
Stay calm, talk to the police officer with respect, and be apologetic. Don’t brush it off as a non-issue. Acknowledge that you’ve done wrong, promise you won’t do it again, and don’t act like you’re above begging a little.
A lot of the time, especially for lower-price tickets, police will let you off with a warning. Even if they don’t let you go entirely, they may reduce your fine.
You might also consider asking the police officer about their radar gun. Ask them about what goes into maintaining their radar guns, and ask to see department maintenance records. Take note of any information given.
Police are often required to re-calibrate their guns regularly. If they’ve failed to do this, they may have acquired a false reading when they targeted your car. This knowledge could work in your favor when it comes to setting up a solid defense.
Another way to get out of a ticket is if the police officer who issued the ticket doesn’t show up to court. In that case, they can’t defend their case, meaning you get off free. Of course, there’s no real way to guarantee this, so it all comes up to chance.
Getting your court hearing delayed might increase the chances of a police officer failing to show up, but this can’t always be done. It’s important to leave a strategy like this up to your attorney.
Of course, the best way to avoid a speeding ticket is to avoid speeding. Always pay attention to the road and speed signs, and follow the law as well as possible. Mistakes happen, but most of these can be avoided by just paying attention and practicing patience.
Get the Help You Need
Knowing the Louisiana speeding ticket cost will only get you so far. The next step is taking care of that ticket once and for all.
If you want to fight that hefty charge, you’re going to need the help of Louisiana’s top speeding ticket attorney. Visit us here to learn everything you need to know about speeding tickets in Louisiana and get the help you need.
