Washington Parish Traffic Court Records
Washington Parish traffic court records are held at the Clerk of Court office in Franklinton. The parish falls under the 22nd Judicial District Court, which also serves St. Tammany Parish. If you got a traffic ticket in Washington Parish, your case may be in the district court system or in Bogalusa's municipal court, depending on where the stop took place. You can search for your case by contacting the clerk's office or checking the statewide court records portal. The 22nd JDC has 12 judges and 2 commissioners who handle a wide range of cases, including traffic violations across both parishes.
Washington Parish Quick Facts
Washington Parish Clerk of Court
Johnny D. Crain is the Washington Parish Clerk of Court. The office is in the Courthouse Building at the corner of Washington and Main in Franklinton, LA 70438. The mailing address is PO Box 607, Franklinton, LA 70438. You can reach the office by phone at (985) 839-4663. The clerk handles all court filings for Washington Parish, which means traffic court records from the 22nd JDC pass through this office. If you need to pull up a case or get a copy of a traffic record, this is where you start.
The clerk's office has several fax lines for different departments. The administrative fax is (985) 839-3116. Civil matters go to (985) 839-2925. Criminal and traffic case fax is (985) 839-7271. These separate lines help the staff route your request to the right place faster. The office website is www.wpclerk.org, though it may have intermittent access issues.
Under La. R.S. 44:1, court records in Washington Parish are public records. That includes traffic court filings, dispositions, and case dockets from the 22nd JDC. You can go to the clerk's office during business hours to inspect these records at no charge. Copies cost a per-page fee set by state law.
| Address | Courthouse Building, Washington & Main, Franklinton, LA 70438 |
|---|---|
| Mailing | PO Box 607, Franklinton, LA 70438 |
| Phone | (985) 839-4663 |
| Fax (Admin) | (985) 839-3116 |
| Fax (Criminal) | (985) 839-7271 |
| Website | wpclerk.org |
22nd Judicial District Court Traffic Cases
The 22nd Judicial District Court covers both Washington Parish and St. Tammany Parish. It is one of the larger judicial districts in Louisiana, with 12 elected judges and 2 commissioners. Traffic offenses that go beyond simple citations, such as reckless driving, DWI, or driving on a suspended license, are typically handled at the district court level. These cases generate records that stay with the Washington Parish Clerk of Court.
The 22nd JDC has an emergency line at 1-866-602-9175. This number is for urgent court matters, not routine record requests. For regular traffic court record searches, call the clerk's office directly. The court's website at 22ndjdc.com may list court schedules and judge assignments that can help you figure out when your case is set to be heard.
The screenshot below shows the 22nd Judicial District Court website, which covers Washington Parish traffic court matters.
The 22nd JDC site has information on court divisions, judge rosters, and case scheduling for Washington Parish and St. Tammany Parish.
Bogalusa Municipal Court
Bogalusa has its own municipal court that handles traffic tickets issued within city limits. If a Bogalusa police officer wrote your citation, the case is in the municipal court system, not the 22nd JDC. This is a common point of confusion. Many people call the parish clerk looking for a case that is actually in the city court.
Municipal court records in Bogalusa are separate from the parish clerk's records. You need to contact the Bogalusa City Court directly for those cases. The city court handles minor traffic offenses like speeding, running stop signs, and expired tags that occur inside Bogalusa. More serious charges may still get transferred up to the district court level.
Note: If you are unsure which court has your Washington Parish traffic case, call the clerk at (985) 839-4663 first and they can point you in the right direction.
Search Washington Parish Traffic Records
There are a few ways to search for traffic court records in Washington Parish. The most direct method is to visit the clerk's office in Franklinton during regular business hours. In-person inspection of public court records is free under Louisiana law. You can look up cases by name, case number, or date of filing. The staff can help you find the right file if you have basic info about the case.
For remote access, the ClerkConnect platform provides online record searches for many Louisiana parishes. Check whether Washington Parish records are available through that system. The Louisiana state government directory also lists contact info for all parish offices, which can be useful if you need to verify hours or phone numbers before visiting.
La. R.S. 44:33.1 requires every custodian of public records to post contact information for the records custodian. This makes it easier for the public to know exactly who to call and where to go. Washington Parish follows this rule through its clerk's office. When you request copies, expect a fee of about $1 per page for regular copies and $5 for certified copies, though fees can change. The clerk's staff can tell you the current rates when you call.
- Visit the clerk's office in Franklinton for free in-person searches
- Call (985) 839-4663 for case status and record requests
- Fax your request to the criminal department at (985) 839-7271
- Check ClerkConnect for online access
- Use the 22nd JDC website for court schedules
Legal Help for Washington Parish Traffic Cases
If you need legal assistance with a Washington Parish traffic case, several resources are available. Louisiana Law Help has guides on how to deal with traffic court, including what to expect at a hearing and how to request records. The site is free and aimed at people who do not have a lawyer. Southeast Louisiana Legal Services may also cover Washington Parish for those who qualify based on income.
The Louisiana local government directory can connect you with other Washington Parish offices that may be relevant to your case. The parish sheriff's office handles warrant checks and arrest records that sometimes overlap with traffic matters, especially for cases involving suspended licenses or failure to appear.
Nearby Parishes
Washington Parish borders several other parishes in southeast Louisiana. Each has its own clerk of court and traffic court system for handling citations and cases.