Find Traffic Court Records in Metairie
Traffic court records for Metairie are handled by the First Parish Court of Jefferson Parish. Metairie is an unincorporated area, so it does not have its own city court or municipal court. Instead, the parish court system covers all traffic cases from the East Bank of Jefferson Parish, including Metairie. With about 138,000 residents, Metairie is one of the largest communities in the state without its own incorporated government.
Metairie Quick Facts
First Parish Court of Jefferson Parish
The First Parish Court was created in 1962 by the Louisiana Legislature. It serves the East Bank of Jefferson Parish, covering wards 7, 8, 9, and 10. That includes Metairie and surrounding East Bank areas. A Traffic Hearing Officer presides over traffic court cases.
| Court | First Parish Court of Jefferson Parish |
|---|---|
| Address | 924 David Drive Metairie, LA 70003 |
| Phone | (504) 736-8900 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Traffic court until 6:30 PM |
The Jefferson Parish Courts website is the main online portal for First Parish Court information.
This site has links to online payment, court schedules, and contact details for all Jefferson Parish courts including the First Parish Court in Metairie.
Traffic court hours run later than the regular office hours. The court stays open until 6:30 PM for traffic matters. That gives people more time to deal with their cases after work. Call ahead to confirm the schedule for the day you plan to visit.
How to Pay a Metairie Traffic Ticket
You can pay your traffic ticket online through jeffparishcourts.com. The online system takes credit and debit cards. There is an important thing to know about paying online. The court states: "I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT PAYING MY TRAFFIC TICKET ONLINE CONSTITUTES A GUILTY PLEA." So if you want to fight the ticket, do not pay online. Go to court instead.
In person, the court takes cash, money orders, and cards. You can also set up a payment plan. The court charges a $2.00 installment fee for partial payments. Installments run on 30-day cycles. If you cannot pay the full amount at once, ask the clerk about this option.
The Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court has multiple locations. The screenshot below shows the office hours and addresses.
The clerk's locations page lists each office address, phone number, and business hours for Jefferson Parish.
Traffic Court Process in Metairie
When you get a traffic ticket in Metairie, the citation tells you your court date and the fine amount. You can pay before the court date to close the case. That counts as a guilty plea. If you want to contest the charge, show up on your court date.
The Traffic Hearing Officer handles traffic cases. This is not a full judge but an officer assigned to traffic court. The hearing officer can reduce fines, dismiss charges, or find you guilty. Bring any evidence you have. Photos, witness names, and your own notes can help.
If you miss your court date and have not paid, the court can issue a bench warrant. That means you can be arrested during a future traffic stop. Fines go up too. Contact the court as soon as possible if you missed your date. The sooner you act, the more options you have.
The Jefferson Parish DA's office also plays a role in some traffic cases. The screenshot below shows their parish court page.
The DA's page explains how the office handles criminal and traffic cases in Jefferson Parish courts.
How to Search Metairie Traffic Records
Since Metairie is unincorporated, traffic records are kept by the Jefferson Parish system. The First Parish Court and the Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court both maintain records. You can search for cases a few different ways.
Online searches are available through jeffparishcourts.com. You can look up cases by name or ticket number. The Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court at jpclerkofcourt.us also has a records search tool. Not all old records are online, so you may need to visit in person for older cases.
In-person searches at 924 David Drive are free during business hours. Staff can look up your case and print copies. Certified copies of court records cost more than plain ones. Under La. R.S. 44:1, these are public records and you have a right to access them.
The court reports all convictions to the Louisiana OMV. That means your driving record shows Metairie traffic cases along with any others from across the state. You can get your own driving record from the OMV to see what is on file.
Legal Help for Metairie Traffic Cases
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services covers Jefferson Parish. They provide free legal aid to low-income residents on civil matters. For traffic tickets, most people handle them without a lawyer. But if you face a DWI or a charge that could put you in jail, getting legal help is a good idea.
The Jefferson Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service. Louisiana Law Help has free guides on handling court cases on your own. Call 211 for local referrals to legal and social services in the Metairie area.
Jefferson Parish Traffic Court Records
Metairie is on the East Bank of Jefferson Parish. All traffic court records for Metairie are part of the Jefferson Parish court system. For details on the full parish, both East and West Bank courts, and related records, visit the Jefferson Parish page.
Other Louisiana Cities
These Louisiana cities also have traffic courts and case records. Each page covers court details, payment options, and search methods.