Updated October 15, 2026.
A traffic fine and a diversion fee can pay for different legal outcomes. Our attorneys assess the available options, their costs, and their effect on the case. An online payment button does not establish that a program will protect your driving record.
Let us handle your Louisiana traffic ticket. Send us your ticket for review. Our attorneys assess the charge, explain the available options, and handle the court work covered by your representation. We work to protect your driving record and save you time.
Compare the three different expenses
| Expense | What it pays for | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Fine and court costs | The amounts ordered for the case or final charge. | Whether a proposed program replaces any amount or adds to it. |
| Diversion or course fee | The specific program, administration or class described in the approval. | Eligibility, authorized provider, deadline, refund terms and final disposition. |
| Legal fee | The representation agreed with the attorney. | The included work and any court or program payments that remain separate. |
Do not pay a program fee merely because it is smaller than a court balance. First obtain the applicable approval and understand what completing the program will do. See the course guide for court-course questions and the main cost guide for a fine-and-cost example.
What can be included in the ticket cost?
The total may include a fine, court costs, and assessments authorized for the charge. Several allegations on one citation may need separate treatment. School-zone, construction-zone, safety-corridor, or other circumstances can change the applicable law.
R.S. 32:57 was amended in 2025 and includes specific provisions for active construction or utility work zones with workers present and designated highway safety corridors. An old rule of thumb that every work-zone ticket is simply doubled is not a reliable current cost estimate.
Our team reviews each actual charge and the applicable court amount. Old figures for unrelated seat-belt or phone offenses do not establish what your ticket will cost.
What is traffic diversion?
A prosecutor’s traffic-diversion program may offer an alternative way to resolve an eligible case after the participant completes stated conditions. Approval, qualifying offenses, fees, deadlines, and results vary by program. Diversion is not a single statewide payment method, and it is not automatically the cheapest option. For a CDL or commercial learner’s permit holder, federal reporting restrictions can rule out a program that would conceal a covered conviction.
For a local example, the St. Landry Parish District Attorney’s program requires prior approval and limits enrollment to the courses specified in the participant’s paperwork. Its published instructions also set deadlines tied to the court date. That example should not be applied to another parish’s program.
What we evaluate before recommending diversion
- Approval requirements for the driver and citation.
- Fees, course costs, and refund terms.
- Any plea or admission required by the agreement.
- Course, document, and completion requirements.
- Court appearances and reporting deadlines.
- The precise disposition and how it is reported.
We explain the agreed program terms and the legal steps required to complete the resolution. An application or unfinished course does not extend a court deadline on its own.
Court-approved courses are another procedure
Article 892.1 provides traffic-course procedures with their own eligibility and dismissal conditions. Those provisions should not be confused with the particular terms of a prosecutor’s diversion offer. Our guide to traffic-school costs and dismissal explains the distinction.
Compare the outcome, cost, and obligations
Louisiana does not use numerical license points. Even so, a conviction may have record, insurance, or licensing consequences. For commercial or out-of-state drivers, additional rules may apply. Review those consequences before choosing a resolution based only on which payment is smaller.
Our lawyers also assess whether the evidence supports disputing the allegation. We explain the approach we recommend and the court work included in the fee. The charge, evidence and applicable procedure determine what can be requested; a general dismissal percentage cannot predict an individual result.
Let us handle your ticket
Send us your ticket or call (225) 327-1722 to get started. Include the court date and any notices you have received. Our team will explain the next step and the fee for handling your matter. You can also contact us here.
Related guides
- How Much Is a Speeding Ticket in Louisiana?
- Louisiana Traffic Ticket Deadlines: When Must I Respond?
For the cost of hiring our firm and the refund promise, see our attorney’s fee and scope of representation. Court and program charges are separate.