On this page
- How cases are split in Ponchatoula
- Missed your court date? Act now
- Driving under suspension is a crime, not a ticket
- Traffic tickets and your driving record
- How long does the state have on a misdemeanor?
- Other charges we defend for Ponchatoula clients
- Why Ponchatoula clients call a Kenner firm
- Serving Ponchatoula and nearby towns
How cases are split in Ponchatoula
Where your case goes depends on where it happened and how serious it is. Ponchatoula Mayor's Court handles adult misdemeanors, traffic violations and code enforcement inside city limits. It hears charges under state statutes as well as city ordinances.
Felonies are a different matter. They go to the 21st Judicial District Court at 110 North Bay Street in Amite, the parish seat. The same district court serves Livingston and St. Helena parishes, so a case from nearby Springfield, just across the line in Livingston Parish, ends up in that court system too.
Arrests inside the city are made by the Ponchatoula Police Department. Outside city limits, the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office usually handles them.
Missed your court date? Act now
If you miss a traffic court date, the problem grows fast. The court notifies the Department of Public Safety, which sends a notice that your license may be suspended if you do not appear or pay. Once the matter is resolved, you owe a $100 fee to the Office of Motor Vehicles to clear the pending suspension.
A missed date can also lead to a bench warrant. That turns a simple ticket into a reason to be arrested at your next traffic stop. Read about how we handle arrest warrants, and call us at (504) 905-8399 before you walk into any courthouse with an open warrant.
Driving under suspension is a crime, not a ticket
Driving while your license is suspended can mean up to $500 and up to 6 months in jail on a first offense. For a commercial license holder, the fine can reach $5,000. On top of that, a conviction automatically adds a year to the suspension you already have.
If your suspension came from a DWI, a later conviction for driving under suspension brings at least 7 days in jail, served in a row without benefit of probation or parole. This is one of the charges where a small mistake can snowball.
Traffic tickets and your driving record
Louisiana does not use a point system for driver's licenses. Instead, traffic convictions are reported to the Office of Motor Vehicles and appear on your driving record, where insurance companies see them.
When a law does not set its own penalty, a first traffic violation can bring up to $175 and up to 30 days in jail. Later violations can mean up to $500 and 90 days. Commercial drivers face extra risk: two serious violations within 3 years can disqualify a CDL for 60 days.
See our traffic ticket defense page and our article on whether you should pay a traffic ticket.
How long does the state have on a misdemeanor?
The clock matters in small cases too. For a misdemeanor that carries possible jail time, the state generally has 2 years from the offense to start the prosecution. For a misdemeanor punishable only by a fine, it has 6 months.
Once charges are filed, a misdemeanor trial generally must begin within 1 year. And for most misdemeanors, the case is decided by a judge, not a jury, because Louisiana only gives a jury when the possible jail time is more than 6 months or the possible fine is more than $2,500.
These rules have exceptions, and the dates can be paused in some situations. A lawyer can check whether your case is still on solid legal ground.
Other charges we defend for Ponchatoula clients
Not every case in Ponchatoula is about driving. We also defend people against:
- DWI, which may be heard in Mayor's Court or the 21st JDC depending on the charge. Our Hammond DWI lawyer page covers Tangipahoa DWI cases.
- Drug possession and distribution
- Simple battery, a misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months
- Theft and shoplifting
- Probation violations
Why Ponchatoula clients call a Kenner firm
Our office is about 45 to 50 minutes (roughly 45 miles) from Ponchatoula. Barry regularly handles cases in Tangipahoa Parish, and Senior Partner John J. Mason practices in the parish as well.
Barry knows both sides of a criminal case. He worked as an Assistant District Attorney in Orleans Parish and later as a public defender in the 17th Judicial District. That background helps him spot weaknesses in the state's case and know when a deal is worth taking and when it is not.
We offer remote consultations, so you can talk to us from home. Call (504) 905-8399 24/7 for a free, confidential consultation.
Serving Ponchatoula and nearby towns
We work with clients from Ponchatoula, Hammond, Tickfaw, Manchac and Springfield, whether the case is a first ticket or a serious felony. If you live in Hammond, see our Hammond criminal defense page, which explains how that city's cases are handled.
For a wider look at the courts and jail serving the parish, visit our Tangipahoa Parish criminal defense lawyer page.