New Orleans Traffic Ticket Records
Traffic ticket records in New Orleans are handled by the Municipal and Traffic Court of New Orleans, which serves all of Orleans Parish. The court returned to its permanent home at 727 S. Broad Street on January 5, 2026, following repairs from Hurricane Ida damage. You can search case records online for free, pay eligible fines without coming in, and find out what steps to take after you receive a citation inside city limits.
New Orleans Quick Facts
Municipal and Traffic Court of New Orleans
The Municipal and Traffic Court of New Orleans is the main body that manages traffic ticket records for the city. It is located at 727 S. Broad Street, New Orleans, LA 70125. The court is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. You can reach the clerk by phone at 504-658-8500. This court processes citations issued by the New Orleans Police Department and handles municipal code violations that arise within city limits.
The court deals with a wide range of traffic matters. These include speeding violations, red light citations, stop sign offenses, improper lane changes, and other moving violations. It also hears more serious cases such as driving under suspension and certain misdemeanor traffic crimes. Not every case can be settled without a court visit. Some violations carry a mandatory appearance requirement. The citation itself will state whether you must appear in person before a judge. If your ticket says "must appear," you cannot simply pay it and move on.
The court recently came back to its permanent location. After Hurricane Ida, hearings were held temporarily at 1601 Perdido Street for an extended period. As of January 5, 2026, all court operations returned to 727 S. Broad Street. If you have older case documents or mailed correspondence from that interim period, the address on file may be different from the current one. Use the current address for any new filings or in-person visits.
The official court website at www.nola.gov/municipal-and-traffic-court lists current hours, acceptable forms of payment, and any updates to procedures or closures.
Searching New Orleans Traffic Ticket Records Online
The Municipal and Traffic Court of New Orleans provides free online case searches. No account or fee is needed to look up a case. You can search by case number or by the name listed on the citation. The tool shows the current status of a citation, any upcoming court dates, and whether a balance is still owed.
The Louisiana Courts system also offers a broader statewide search option. The portal at lacourt.org/online/traffic covers traffic case records across multiple Louisiana jurisdictions, including New Orleans. This is useful if you are not sure which court has your case on file.
The screenshot below shows the Louisiana Courts online traffic case search portal, which provides access to New Orleans traffic ticket records along with cases from other jurisdictions statewide.
The Louisiana Courts online traffic search at lacourt.org/online/traffic lets you look up New Orleans traffic ticket records by name or case number at no charge.
Use this online search to confirm your case number or check your court date before calling the clerk or visiting in person, which can save you time at the window.
The New Orleans Municipal Court also maintains its own dedicated web presence. The screenshot below shows the court site, where you can access forms, contact information, and payment links.
The New Orleans Municipal Court site at neworleansmunicipalcourt.com provides direct access to local court resources, including case lookup tools specific to the city.
Bookmark this page if you need to check back on a case or verify a scheduled court date in the coming weeks.
Paying a New Orleans Traffic Ticket
Online payment is available for eligible violations. Not all ticket types qualify for online resolution. If your citation is eligible, you can pay through the court's portal without making a trip downtown. Keep in mind what Louisiana law says about paying a traffic ticket.
Paying a traffic ticket in Louisiana is treated as a guilty plea. Once you pay, you give up the right to contest the citation or have the matter heard by a judge. Think carefully before paying if you believe the stop was improper or the violation was issued in error. Payment ends your ability to fight the ticket, and the conviction then becomes part of your official record.
Louisiana does not use a driver point system the way most other states do. However, courts are required to report convictions to the Office of Motor Vehicles within 30 days. This requirement is set out under R.S. 32:393. Once OMV receives the report, the conviction appears on your Louisiana driving record. Insurance companies often check these records when you renew or apply for a policy, so the practical impact of a conviction can still be significant even without a point system attached.
If you do not respond to a traffic ticket, the consequences can stack up fast. Missing a court date or failing to pay by the deadline can lead to your driver's license being suspended by the state. The court can also issue an arrest warrant. If your license is suspended, you will need to clear all outstanding fines and pay any reinstatement fees before you can drive legally again. You can find reinstatement information through the Louisiana Department of Public Safety at dps.louisiana.gov.
What Traffic Ticket Records Contain
A traffic ticket record in New Orleans will include the nature of the offense, the date and location of the stop, the officer who issued the citation, and the court case number. Once the case is processed, the record will reflect how it was resolved. That could be a payment, a dismissal, or a finding after a hearing. All of this is part of the public case file.
These records are available to the public under Louisiana's public records law, found at R.S. 44:1. You can request records in person at the court clerk's office at 727 S. Broad Street. Bring a valid photo ID and your case number if you have it. There may be a small copying fee for printed records. Electronic access through the online case search is free.
Driving records, which are separate documents from court case files, are maintained by the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles. You can request your own driving record through the OMV or use the online services at OMV ExpressLane. Your driving record will show all convictions reported by courts in Louisiana and other states that share data with Louisiana OMV.
What to Do After a Traffic Stop in New Orleans
Read your ticket carefully as soon as you receive it. The citation lists the violation, the fine amount if preset, and whether you must appear in court. It also shows a response deadline. Missing that deadline leads to extra fines or a suspended license.
You have a few paths forward. If the violation is eligible for online payment, you can settle it without coming in. If you want to fight the ticket, show up at the court date listed on the citation. A judge will hear your case. Bring any evidence that supports your side, such as photos, dashcam footage, or witness information. You do not have to have a lawyer to appear, but consulting one is a good idea if the violation carries serious penalties or could put your license at risk.
If you need to change your court date, contact the clerk's office as early as possible. Do not simply skip the date without contacting the court first. Courts in Louisiana treat failure to appear seriously, and the consequences can escalate quickly once a warrant is issued.
For traffic citations involving accidents, there may be related civil claims or insurance requirements to address separately from the court case. Those are handled outside of the Municipal and Traffic Court process.
Nearby Cities
Other cities near New Orleans also have traffic court systems and public records access. If you received a citation in one of these areas, check the relevant city page for local court details.
Orleans Parish Records
Traffic tickets in New Orleans are processed through Orleans Parish. For complete parish court records and information, visit the parish page.
Orleans Parish Traffic Records