Louisiana Speeding Ticket Calculator

Understanding Speeding Fines in Louisiana

Louisiana's combination of a $100 base fine, $5 per mph over the limit, and mandatory state surcharges makes it one of the most expensive states for a speeding ticket in the South. The tripled school zone fines are particularly notable — a 20 mph over violation in a Louisiana school zone can easily exceed $500 total. Traffic enforcement is active on I-10, I-20, and in the New Orleans metro area.

In Louisiana, going 10 mph over the speed limit on a highway typically results in an estimated fine of $260–$364, including court costs and administrative fees. The fine increases to approximately $310–$434 for 20 mph over and $360–$504 for 30 mph over. Road type significantly affects your total: fines in school zones are multiplied by 2.5×, and construction zone fines are doubled.

A Louisiana speeding ticket consists of a base fine of $100 plus $5/mph over the limit, with an additional $110 in court costs and administrative surcharges. For example, going 15 mph over the speed limit would cost approximately $285 before road-type multipliers are applied. These figures reflect typical statewide fine schedules; exact amounts vary by county.

Key Louisiana Speeding Laws

• Louisiana has one of the highest base speeding fines in the South — starting at $100 before per-mph charges or court costs are added.

• School zone fines are tripled (not just doubled) in Louisiana when children are present — the highest school zone multiplier in the country.

• Louisiana mandates a state surcharge on all moving violations: the "Indigent Defender Fund" and "Judicial Expense Fund" fees add to every citation regardless of the base fine.

License Points in Louisiana

Louisiana uses a point system to track driver violations. A standard speeding infraction typically adds 2–4 points to your Louisiana license depending on the severity. Accumulating 12 or more points within 2 years triggers a license suspension or mandatory DMV hearing.

Beyond license points, a speeding conviction in Louisiana typically raises auto insurance premiums by 20–35%, with the surcharge lasting 3–5 years. The total long-term financial impact of a single speeding ticket — including fines, court costs, and insurance — commonly exceeds $1,000–$1,500 over the surcharge period.

Tips for Louisiana Drivers

Louisiana's traffic courts operate on a parish (county) basis with significant variation in how prosecutors and judges handle first-time violations. In rural parishes, a clean record and respectful appearance often result in a reduction to a non-moving violation. In Orleans and Jefferson parishes, congestion and volume mean less individual discretion — a traffic attorney becomes more valuable.

If you are stopped for speeding in Louisiana, be polite and cooperative with the officer. Anything you say can be referenced in court. Before paying a ticket online, consider whether contesting it or requesting traffic school produces a better financial outcome — the insurance savings over 3–5 years typically far exceed the inconvenience of a court appearance.