Houma Traffic Ticket Records

Traffic ticket records in Houma are handled by the City Court of Houma, located in Terrebonne Parish. The court has strict payment rules that set it apart from most other Louisiana city courts, so read the details below before you show up to pay a fine.

City Court of Houma

The City Court of Houma sits at 8046 Main Street, Houma, LA 70360. The phone number is (985) 868-4232. This court handles traffic violations issued within the city limits of Houma, and it carries one of the stricter payment policies you will find at any Louisiana city court. Before you come to pay a ticket, you need to know what forms of payment the court accepts, because it will not make exceptions.

The court does not accept credit cards. It does not offer payment plans. You must pay the full amount due in cash or by money order when you come to the window. There is no option to put part down and pay the rest later. If you cannot pay in full, you will need to return when you have the full amount ready. This is different from many other courts in the state, so do not assume the same rules apply here that apply elsewhere.

The City Court of Houma website is www.citycourtofhouma.org. Check it before your visit for current hours and any updates to court schedules.

Payment Policy: Cash or Money Order Only

This is the most important thing to know about Houma traffic ticket records and how fines get paid here. The court accepts NO credit cards. There are NO payment plans. You must bring cash or a money order for the full amount owed. This policy applies to every traffic fine processed through the City Court of Houma, with no exceptions.

The City Court of Houma website lists court hours and current procedures for paying traffic fines in the city.

If you arrive with a debit card or a credit card, you will be turned away. The court does not process electronic payments at the window or online. Bring the exact amount if possible, or bring a money order made out to the City Court of Houma. Do not bring a personal check, as those are not accepted either.

Fine Amounts for Traffic Violations in Houma

Court costs in Houma vary by the type of violation. Speeding tickets carry a court cost of $152.75. Moving violations other than speeding come in at $140.75 in court costs. These figures are the court cost portion of what you owe, and the total amount on your ticket may differ based on the specific charge and any additional assessments the officer noted.

Louisiana does not use a point system for driver's licenses in the same way some other states do. However, paying a traffic ticket is treated as a guilty plea. That guilty plea goes on your driving record and gets reported to the Office of Motor Vehicles. Insurance companies can and do check driving records, so each paid traffic ticket in Houma can affect your rates over time.

If you plan to contest the charge rather than pay the fine, you will need to appear in court on the date listed on your citation. Do not simply ignore the ticket and assume nothing will happen. Failure to appear in Houma, as in all Louisiana courts, can result in a warrant being issued and your driver's license being suspended by the OMV.

The Louisiana Department of Public Safety manages driver records and OMV reporting statewide, including traffic conviction data from Houma courts.

Failure to Appear and License Suspension

Missing a court date on a Houma traffic ticket is a serious matter. Louisiana courts are required to report failure to appear to the OMV, which can then suspend your driver's license. Once that suspension is in place, you will need to clear the underlying ticket and pay reinstatement fees to get your license back. That process costs more time and money than simply dealing with the ticket in the first place.

If you missed a court date in the past and are not sure whether your license is currently suspended, you can check your driving record through the OMV. An official driving record costs $15 in person at an OMV office or $18 if you order it online through the Express Lane portal. The Express Lane site is at expresslane.dps.louisiana.gov.

How Louisiana Traffic Records Work

Courts in Louisiana are required by R.S. 32:393 to report traffic convictions to the OMV within 30 days. This includes guilty pleas made by paying a fine. Once the OMV receives the report, the conviction is added to your driver abstract and becomes part of your permanent driving record in Louisiana.

Your driving record is a public record in Louisiana under R.S. 44:1 et seq., though certain personal details may be restricted. Courts, insurance companies, and employers who conduct background checks can access this information through proper channels. A traffic ticket paid in Houma today will show up on a record check for several years going forward.

The OMV Express Lane portal lets you order an official driving record online for $18, which shows all traffic convictions on file in Louisiana.

Contesting a Traffic Ticket in Houma

You have the right to contest any traffic ticket issued in Houma. To do that, you must appear in court on or before the date written on your citation. When you appear, you can speak with the court about your options, which may include requesting a trial date. The officer who issued the citation will typically be present at the trial.

If you want to consult with a traffic attorney before deciding how to handle a Houma ticket, there are attorneys in Terrebonne Parish who handle these matters. The Louisiana State Bar Association website at lsba.org has a lawyer finder tool. Legal aid services may also be available if you qualify based on income.

Keep a copy of your ticket at all times until the matter is fully resolved. The citation number is what the court uses to locate your case in their system. If you lose the ticket, call (985) 868-4232 and the clerk can look up your case by name and date of birth.

Terrebonne Parish Records

Traffic tickets in Houma are processed through the City Court, but violations issued outside the city limits of Houma fall under Terrebonne Parish jurisdiction. State Police tickets, Sheriff's Office citations, and tickets from unincorporated parts of Terrebonne Parish are handled through the 32nd Judicial District Court rather than the city court. If your ticket was not issued by the Houma Police Department inside city limits, check with Terrebonne Parish to find the right court.