Baton Rouge Traffic Ticket Lawyer

Possibly the most common traffic violation out there is speeding. We’ve all been there: speeding because we’re late for work, late for a doctor’s appointment, late to pick up the kids from school, you name it. Still, speeding tickets can be incredibly expensive in Louisiana. Here’s a quick break down:

• If you drive 1 to 9MPH over the speed limit, you could have to pay a minimum fine of $115.
• If you drive 10 to 14MPH over the speed limit, you could have to pay a minimum fine of $215.
• If you drive 15 to 20MPH over the speed limit, you could have to pay a minimum fine of $240.
• If you drive more than 21MPH over the speed limit, you could have to pay a fine of $240 or more and show up in traffic court.

If you’re caught speeding and not wearing a seatbelt, you can expect an extra $25 to be tacked onto your fine. Speeding ticket cases are generally considered misdemeanors.

If you’re over the age of 21 and you’re caught driving with a blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08%, you could receive a DUI charge on your record. If you’re under the age of 21, the legal BAC limit in Louisiana is 0.02%. Finally, if you’re a commercial driver, the legal BAC limit in Louisiana is 0.04%.

Even though the first two DUI offenses are considered misdemeanors under Louisiana law, you could still face harsh penalties. Listed below are the penalties for the first DUI offense:

• Up to two years of probation.
• 10 days to 6 months in jail.
• A fine of $300 to $1,000.
• 48 hours in jail or 32 hours of community service.
• Participation in a court-approved substance abuse program and a court-approved driver improvement program.

If you’re caught driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol again, you could face these penalties:

• A fine ranging from $750 to $1,000.
• 30 days to 6 months in jail.
• 240 hours of community service.
• Up to 6 months probation and 48 hours spent in jail.
• Participation in a court-approved substance abuse program and a court-approved driver improvement program.
• Some judges order you to have an ignition interlock device, in order to continue your driving privileges. This device measures your breath to see how much alcohol may be in your system before you are allowed to drive your car.

Third and subsequent DUI offenses are considered felonies under Louisiana law. Listed below are the possible penalties for a third offense.

• A $2,000 fine.
• 1 to 5 years behind bars.
• 240 hours of community service.
• Up to 5 years of probation. One year must be spent in jail, along with community service and re-education programs.
• Substance abuse evaluation and substance abuse treatment.
• The prosecutor may seize the offender’s vehicle.
• Some judges order you to have an ignition interlock device.
• Probation for the full length of any suspended sentence plus home incarceration for a minimum of 6 months.

Finally, these are the possible penalties if you’re charged with a fourth or subsequent DUI in Louisiana:

• Fine up to $5,000.
• 10 to 30 years behind bars. Two of these years are without the benefit of suspension.
• 5 years of probation.
• 320 hours of community service.
• Home incarceration for at least one year.
• Vehicle seizure.
• Requirement to undergo a substance abuse evaluation.
• An order to comply with substance abuse treatment for four weeks inpatient and 12 months outpatient.

A hit and run accident occurs when someone hits another driver, and then immediately leaves the scene. If you commit a hit and run accident in Louisiana, you could receive felony charges and penalties. These felony charges and penalties may be enhanced if you seriously injure or kill someone in a hit and run accident, or if you committed the accident while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Here’s the break down:

• If you’re under the influence of drugs and alcohol and you commit a hit and run that results in no serious bodily injury or death, you could face a minimum fine of $500 and 10 days to 6 months behind bars.
• If you commit a hit and run that results in serious bodily injury or death, you could face a $5,000 fine and/or 10 years in jail.

Distracted driving could mean: texting and driving, using social media and driving, eating and driving, or any activity that requires you to take your eyes off the road or multi-task while driving. The most common type of distracted driving these days is texting and driving, which is illegal according to Louisiana law (RS 32:300.5).

• The first texting and driving violation is punishable by a fine of $500.
• Second and subsequent texting and driving violations are punishable by a fine of $1,000. Offenders may also have their license suspended for up to 60 days.
• If texting and driving causes you to get into a car accident, fines will be doubled.

If you’re caught driving without a drivers license or with an expired or suspended license, you could receive a misdemeanor charge. Generally, offenders receive a $119 fine each time they’re caught with a driver’s license violation.

Running a stop sign or a red light is another misdemeanor traffic violation in Louisiana. Fines for this type of traffic violation will generally vary parish to parish, but you could expect to pay a $150 to $225 fine.

If you cause someone to suffer a personal injury or death from running a red light or a stop sign, your fines will drastically increase, and you may even face a bit of jail time.