St. Landry Parish Traffic Court Records

St. Landry Parish traffic court records are kept by the Clerk of Court in Opelousas. The 27th Judicial District Court handles traffic cases filed across the parish, while two city courts cover tickets issued in Opelousas and Eunice. You can search for traffic records at the clerk's office in person or call to ask about a case. St. Landry Parish has been recognized as one of the most advanced clerk of court offices in the state, which means getting records here tends to go more smoothly than in some other parishes. Start with the clerk's office to find your case.

St. Landry Parish Clerk of Court

Charles J. "Chuck" LeBlanc serves as the St. Landry Parish Clerk of Court. His office is at 118 S. Court Street in Opelousas, LA 70570. The mailing address is PO Box 750, Opelousas, LA 70571. Call (337) 942-5606 to reach the clerk's office. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The office handles civil, criminal, recording and conveyance, and elections work. Traffic cases that go through the 27th Judicial District Court are filed and stored here as part of the criminal case records.

The clerk's office in St. Landry Parish has a reputation for being well run. It has been recognized as one of the most advanced clerk of court offices in Louisiana. That recognition speaks to how the office uses technology and keeps up with records management. If you need to pull a traffic court record, this is the place to go first. Walk in during business hours and ask at the front desk. Staff can look up cases by name or case number. You can also call ahead to check if your record is on file before making the trip.

The screenshot below shows the St. Landry Parish Clerk of Court website, which is the main hub for court records and parish services.

The clerk's site at stlandry.org provides office details, department contacts, and links to parish services in St. Landry Parish.

Traffic Cases in St. Landry Parish City Courts

St. Landry Parish has two city courts that handle traffic tickets on their own. Opelousas City Court takes cases from within the city of Opelousas. Call (337) 948-2570 to reach them. Eunice City Court covers traffic citations issued in Eunice. Their phone number is (337) 457-6535. If your ticket was written by a city officer in either town, the city court is where your record lives. The district court does not have it.

This split matters. A lot of people call the clerk's office looking for a traffic record, only to find out their case is in city court. Check the issuing agency on your ticket. If it says Opelousas PD, go to Opelousas City Court. If it says Eunice PD, call Eunice City Court. State police citations and sheriff's office tickets typically go through the 27th JDC and land at the clerk's office instead. Knowing where your case was filed saves time and frustration.

Note: City court records are separate from district court records, so always check your ticket for the issuing agency before calling.

Paying St. Landry Parish Traffic Fines

Traffic fines in St. Landry Parish are paid through the clerk's office for district court cases. The office accepts cash, check, money order, credit cards, and debit cards. Walk in during business hours to make a payment. Bring your case number or citation number so staff can pull up the right record. If you are not sure what you owe, they can look that up too.

For city court fines, payment goes to the respective city court. Opelousas City Court and Eunice City Court each handle their own collections. Call the court that has your case to ask about payment options and amounts. Some courts in Louisiana now use online payment portals, but not all city courts have adopted them yet. Check with the court directly to see what methods they take.

Missing a payment deadline can lead to additional fees or a bench warrant. Under La. R.S. 32:57, failure to appear on a traffic citation can result in license suspension through the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles. If you have an outstanding fine, deal with it sooner rather than later. The clerk's office can tell you the status of your case and whether any warrants are active.

Accessing Traffic Records in St. Landry Parish

Louisiana's public records law, La. R.S. 44:1, makes traffic court records available to anyone who asks. You do not need to be the defendant. Walk into the clerk's office at 118 S. Court Street and request a search. In-person inspection of records is free under state law. Copies cost extra. The standard rate for most Louisiana clerk offices is $1.00 per page for regular copies and $5.00 for certified copies, though St. Landry Parish may have its own fee schedule posted at the office.

For background checks or more formal searches, the clerk charges a fee per name searched. Criminal record searches in Louisiana typically run $20 per name. This covers traffic cases that fall under the criminal docket. If you just need to look at a record and take notes, you can do that without paying for copies.

The Louisiana state government directory lists contact information for all parish offices, including St. Landry. The Louisiana Law Help site also has guides on how to work with clerk of court offices for records requests. These resources are helpful if you are unfamiliar with the process.

St. Landry Parish Traffic Law

Traffic violations in St. Landry Parish fall under the Louisiana Highway Regulatory Act, La. R.S. 32:1 and following sections. Speeding, running stop signs, and other moving violations are handled as misdemeanors in most cases. The 27th Judicial District Court has jurisdiction over the entire parish for these offenses. More serious charges like DWI are governed by La. R.S. 14:98 and carry heavier penalties.

La. R.S. 13:2501 sets up city courts in Louisiana. Both Opelousas and Eunice operate under this framework. City courts have limited jurisdiction but can handle most traffic offenses that occur within their city limits. Appeals from city court go to the district court. If you want to contest a traffic ticket, you have the right to a trial. The court will set a date, and you can represent yourself or hire a lawyer.

Nearby Parishes

St. Landry Parish sits in south-central Louisiana. These neighboring parishes each have their own clerk offices and traffic court systems.