On this page
- Who makes arrests and writes tickets in Harahan?
- What is Harahan Mayor's Court?
- When does a Harahan case go to First Parish Court or the 24th JDC?
- How does a Harahan DWI arrest affect my driver's license?
- Is reckless driving in Harahan a crime or just a ticket?
- Can an old Harahan arrest be cleared from your record?
- How far is our office from Harahan?
Who makes arrests and writes tickets in Harahan?
Inside city limits, it is usually the Harahan Police Department. Harahan is an incorporated city with its own police force and its own court, which sets it apart from unincorporated neighbors like River Ridge and Elmwood, where the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office patrols.
Who wrote your ticket or made the arrest matters, because it helps decide which court you will see. Look at the top of your citation or bond paperwork for the agency name and the court. If the paperwork is missing or confusing, bring whatever you have to your consultation and we will sort it out.
What is Harahan Mayor's Court?
Harahan Mayor's Court is the city's own court, at 6437 Jefferson Hwy., and it hears city cases from Harahan. It is separate from the parish court system.
A mayor's court case can feel minor, but a conviction is still a conviction. Louisiana does not use a point system for driver's licenses, yet traffic convictions are reported to the OMV and show up on the driving record insurers check.
Missing your court date is the worst choice. On a traffic ticket, the court notifies the state, your license can be suspended, and you will owe a $100 OMV fee to clear it. A bench warrant is also possible. See our traffic ticket defense page.
When does a Harahan case go to First Parish Court or the 24th JDC?
If you are charged under state law rather than a city ordinance, your case leaves Harahan. State misdemeanors, including most first and second offense DWIs, go to First Parish Court at 924 David Dr. in Metairie. Felonies go to the 24th Judicial District Court at 200 Derbigny St. in Gretna.
Anyone held on parish charges goes to the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center at 100 Dolhonde St. in Gretna and must see a judge within 72 hours, not counting weekends and holidays. If someone you love was just arrested, call (504) 905-8399 so we can start on the bond hearing.
How does a Harahan DWI arrest affect my driver's license?
Your license is at risk the moment you are arrested, separate from the criminal case. The officer takes your license and gives you a receipt that works as a temporary license for up to 30 days.
- You have 30 days from the arrest to request an OMV hearing in writing. Miss it and the suspension starts automatically.
- A first failed test between 0.08% and 0.149% means a 180-day suspension.
- A first refusal means a 1-year suspension.
- In many cases you can drive on a restricted license once an ignition interlock is installed.
Learn more in our guide to DWI license suspension and the OMV hearing, or see our DWI defense page.
Is reckless driving in Harahan a crime or just a ticket?
Reckless operation is a crime in Louisiana, not just a traffic ticket. Careless operation, which means failing to drive in a careful and prudent way, is a traffic violation. The two can sound alike on a citation, but they are treated very differently.
- Reckless operation (R.S. 14:99): up to $200 and up to 90 days in jail on a first offense, and $25 to $500 plus 10 days to 6 months on a second.
- Careless operation (R.S. 32:58): punished under the general traffic penalties, up to $175 and up to 30 days on a first violation.
A criminal charge leaves a criminal record. Before you plead to anything, let us look at the citation and the facts behind it. Sometimes the evidence supports only the lesser charge, or neither one.
Can an old Harahan arrest be cleared from your record?
Often it can. Louisiana lets you expunge an arrest that did not end in a conviction once the case is over. A misdemeanor conviction can usually be expunged after a set-aside under Article 894, or after 5 years with no felony conviction. Felonies generally take a set-aside or 10 clean years, and some charges are never eligible.
An expunged record is not destroyed. It is hidden from the public but still available to police, prosecutors and some licensing agencies. That alone can help with job and housing searches. Barry helped rewrite Orleans Criminal Court's expungement procedure early in his career. See our expungement page.
How far is our office from Harahan?
Our office at 4224 Florida Ave. in Kenner is about 12 to 15 minutes (roughly 5 miles) from Harahan. We help clients from Colonial Club, Soniat, River Ridge, Elmwood and every part of the city.
Barry is a former Orleans Parish Assistant District Attorney and public defender who focuses only on criminal defense. We also handle theft, drug and domestic violence charges. The first consultation is free and confidential, and you are under no obligation to hire us.
Call (504) 905-8399 any time, including nights and weekends. You can also visit our Jefferson Parish page for more on the parish courts and our Kenner office page for directions.