How to Search St. Tammany Parish Traffic Court Records
The citation is the starting point. It names the issuing court and gives a citation number, a due date, and payment instructions. Match the ticket to the right court, then use that court's portal or counter. The Sheriff also runs ticket and docket payment portals for citations it handles.
Confirm the ticket belongs to St. Tammany Parish before you pay, and check whether paying online resolves the case or waives a right to contest.
The Sheriff's ticket payment portal looks up a payable citation by number.
Use the Sheriff's ticket payment portal to find a St. Tammany Parish citation by its number.
The portal confirms the amount and the payable citation, but it does not replace a court appearance when the case requires one.
Which Courts Handle Traffic Cases in St. Tammany Parish
Traffic cases are split across several courts. City Court of East St. Tammany handles local traffic and ordinance matters in its area. Municipal and mayor's courts in places like Slidell, Mandeville, and Covington handle citations issued under city authority. Justice of the peace courts handle some limited local matters.
Serious traffic crimes, like DUI and DWI, route to criminal court in the 22nd JDC. Because no single portal holds every traffic record, the citation is the key to finding the right court.
The agency on the ticket is a strong clue. A citation from a city police department usually points to that city's court, while a citation from the Sheriff or State Police may route to district court or a Sheriff payment portal. If the ticket is unclear, calling the court named on it confirms where the case lives before a deadline passes.
Types of Traffic Cases on Record
Traffic records range from minor infractions to criminal charges. The category affects which court hears the case and how it shows on a record.
- Moving violations, like speeding or running a light.
- Non-moving and equipment violations.
- License and insurance offenses.
- Commercial driver and CDL violations.
- DUI and DWI charges, which route to criminal court.
What St. Tammany Parish Traffic Court Records Show
A traffic court record holds the facts of the citation and the case as it moves through court. The exact fields depend on the court and the portal. The table shows what a typical traffic record includes.
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Citation Number | The number printed on the ticket. |
| Charge | The traffic offense alleged. |
| Court Date | The scheduled hearing or response deadline. |
| Plea | Guilty, not guilty, or no contest where entered. |
| Fine and Costs | The amount owed and any added costs. |
| Disposition | The outcome, including failure-to-appear status. |
Searching by Citation Number vs by Name
A citation number is the cleanest way to find a single ticket, and most payment portals expect it. A name search may be offered for verification, often with a date of birth. The fields below appear on the Sheriff's citation lookup.
| Field Label | Type | Required | Notes / Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citation / Ticket Number | Text | Likely | Use the number printed on the ticket. |
| Defendant / Driver Name | Text | Conditional | May be used for lookup verification. |
| Date of Birth | Date | Conditional | Used for identity verification. |
| Search / Continue | Button | n/a | Finds the payable ticket. |
Paying or Contesting a St. Tammany Parish Traffic Ticket
Read the citation first, then decide whether to pay or contest. Paying a ticket can count as a plea or admission, so check before you pay if you plan to fight it. Ask about driver-improvement or reduction options if you may be eligible.
- Read the citation for the court name and the deadline.
- Use the correct official portal or court clerk.
- Confirm whether online payment resolves the case or requires a court date.
- If contesting, plead not guilty or request a hearing using the court's process.
- Ask about deferral, reduction, or a driving course before paying if eligible.
- Resolve a failure to appear quickly to avoid a warrant or license issue.
Public Access Laws for Traffic Court Records
Traffic court records are public records under Louisiana law, subject to the same Title 44 framework and exceptions as other court files. You can inspect and copy records through the custodian court, and personal identifiers are redacted.
The St. Tammany Parish public records page explains the open-records law and the request process that applies to court files.
Access does not mean a free certified copy. Inspection is one thing, a plain copy is another, and a certified copy carries its own fee. When a traffic record is needed for an insurer or an employer, ask the court which version it accepts before paying for the wrong one.
Court Traffic Records vs State Driver Records
The court traffic record and the state driver record are two different files. The court record covers the citation and the case. The state driver record, kept by the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles, covers license status and convictions reported to the OMV.
| Point | Court Traffic Record | State Driver Record |
|---|---|---|
| Source | The court that hears the case | Louisiana OMV |
| What it holds | Citation, plea, fine, disposition | License status, convictions, suspensions |
| Where to access | Court portal or clerk | OMV driver record services |
| How to correct errors | Through the court | Through the OMV |
The Louisiana OMV handles driver records and reinstatement.
The Louisiana OMV portal covers driver records and license-related services for St. Tammany Parish drivers.
A paid or convicted ticket can show on both files, so check the driver record if license points or a suspension are a concern.
CDL and Commercial Driver Records
Commercial drivers face stricter rules. A CDL conviction can carry consequences that a regular license does not, and many CDL violations cannot be masked through deferral. A traffic case that seems minor for a regular driver can threaten a commercial license.
CDL holders should confirm how a plea will report to the driver record before resolving a citation. The OMV driver record is the place to verify reported convictions.
DUI and DWI Cases
DUI and DWI charges are not ordinary traffic tickets. They route to criminal court in the 22nd JDC and can involve booking, bond, and a criminal record. The St. Tammany Parish arrest records page covers how these cases appear and how to search them.
Deferred Adjudication and Defensive Driving
Some courts allow a driving-improvement course or a deferral that can keep a conviction off the driver record when the driver qualifies. Eligibility depends on the charge, the driving history, and the court. Ask the court before you pay, since paying first can close the door on these options.
A defensive driving course is not always available, and it rarely applies to serious or commercial violations. Confirm the terms in writing so there is no question about what the resolution means.
Sealing or Expunging Traffic Records
Minor traffic infractions are handled differently from criminal records. A DUI or DWI, because it is a criminal charge, may be eligible for expungement under the same Louisiana process as other criminal records, subject to the charge, the outcome, and the waiting period.
Expungement limits public access rather than destroying every government copy. The arrest records page covers the expungement steps and the forms.
Fees for Traffic Record Copies
Fines and court costs are set by the court on the citation. Record-copy fees depend on the office. The Sheriff's public-record fee schedule, effective August 1, 2024, lists the amounts below for documents and related copies.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Documents, up to 20 pages | $15.00 per record |
| Documents, pages 21 to 100 | $0.50 per page |
| Documents, pages 101 and up | $0.25 per page |
| Criminal history / background check, not notarized | $25.00 |
| Audio or video recording (not body-worn camera) | $15.00 per recording |
Note: Paying a St. Tammany Parish traffic ticket can be treated as a plea, so confirm with the court before paying if you intend to contest the charge.