Louisiana Mayor’s Court

[Musicman]

I just got nailed in a speed trap in Cheneyville, LA for driving 51mph in a 35 mph zone. They have it set up real well. It’s very rural and 55 mph until you get close to town from the south side. Then you get a “reduced speed ahead” sign and immediately after that a 45mph sign. Then immediately after that, there’s a blind curve which has a 35mph sign ½ way into the curve. The curve is sharp enough that if you are light (I was empty) you don’t want to slam on your brakes, so you continue to coast until you get out of the turn. Waiting on the other side of the curve is Johnny Law who writes you the ticket.

Now for the fun part… because I was 16 mph over the limit, I have to appear in court (635 miles from my house, each way). Even better, it’s not a regular court with a judge, it’s presided over by the town mayor, whose salary (I’m sure) is paid at least in part from ticket revenues. I really don’t need anybody to confirm this, but are we really that far back in the dark ages in some parts of the country?

Additionally, anybody have any experience with these Louisiana “Mayor’s Courts”? I’m trying to find an attorney who can go pay these people off and keep the points off my license, but I’m not having much luck. There are no attorney’s in Cheneyville, LA and the few who are in the neighboring larger towns seem only to do slip & falls, business law and unemployment claims. I really don’t want to have to drive 1,300 miles to go to “Mayor’s Court” and I REALLY want to keep the points off my license… right now I have 7 years, 1,100,000 miles with no tickets or accidents and want to keep it that way.

[golfhobo]

No experience with those type of courts, Musicman. But, I just wanted to remind you of what you probably already know. 15 or more over is a Major Violation and 2 of those within 3 years gives you a 2 month vacation from driving.

I recently used Interstate Truckers for a speeding ticket in Tennessee. They reduced it some to save my job and they SAY it is now a "no point" offense. Don't know if it will even make it to my MVR, but supposedly if it does it will be 0 points. I'll believe it when I see it!

Anyway, you can call them and get some advice or info on how well they've done in such courts for free. Then, if you want them to handle it for you, you pay the money and MAYBE you won't have to appear.

I wasn't terribly happy with the way they talked to me and kept putting me off and such.... but, they DID take care of the case for me.

Congrats on such a clean record for so many miles!

Good luck and keep us posted.

Hobo

[GMAN]

Road Law or one of the similar services would be your best bet. You cannot afford for something such as that to go down on your CDL.

[P A Frederick]

I've never been to a Mayor's Court before, but Louisiana has strange laws anyway. They are different than most of the country on some things. For instance, last I heard in LA you are actually presumed guilty of a crime and it is your responsibility to prove your innocence. This of course is the polar opposite from the rest of the country but each state sets their own laws on these thing. LA has always had a different set of rules to follow.

Good luck in court. I'd fight it and beg mercy and anything else when you go in there to see the mayor.

[Part Time Dweller]

I just got nailed in a speed trap in Cheneyville, LA for driving 51mph in a 35 mph zone. They have it set up real well. It’s very rural and 55 mph until you get close to town from the south side. Then you get a “reduced speed ahead” sign and immediately after that a 45mph sign. Then immediately after that, there’s a blind curve which has a 35mph sign ½ way into the curve.

So in other words Musicman, you had absolutely no intentions of slowing down, got caught and are now playing the victim? By your own admission, you didn't even attempt to heed 45 mph zone, as you were 6mph over that, and now want to cry about the 35 mph zone? Obviously you were absent the day they taught personal responsibility in grade school.

BTW, the points isn't your only worry. 16 mph over is one of several major offenses that if convicted of two or more, in a 3 year period will result in a 60 day suspension of your CDL

[jagerbomber3.0]

So in other words Musicman, you had absolutely no intentions of slowing down, got caught and are now playing the victim? By your own admission, you didn't even attempt to heed 45 mph zone, as you were 6mph over that, and now want to cry about the 35 mph zone? Obviously you were absent the day they taught personal responsibility in grade school.

BTW, the points isn't your only worry. 16 mph over is one of several major offenses that if convicted of two or more, in a 3 year period will result in a 60 day suspension of your CDL

[Musicman]

So in other words Musicman, you had absolutely no intentions of slowing down, got caught and are now playing the victim? By your own admission, you didn't even attempt to heed 45 mph zone, as you were 6mph over that, and now want to cry about the 35 mph zone? Obviously you were absent the day they taught personal responsibility in grade school.

BTW, the points isn't your only worry. 16 mph over is one of several major offenses that if convicted of two or more, in a 3 year period will result in a 60 day suspension of your CDL

Gee, you sure called me out on that one, PTD. I guess you’re right, I’m a real speed demon – a menace to modern society. I guess I’ve just been lucky the last seven years and 1,000,000+ miles that I’ve driven without even being pulled over for a moving violation. Sometimes (but rarely) I even bump my cruise up to 63 or 64 miles per hour when I’m out on the wide open road… what a rebel I am!

[Musicman]

... Louisiana has strange laws anyway. They are different than most of the country on some things.

That is because while the rest of the country’s legal system is based on English (British) law, Louisiana’s judicial system is based on the old Napoleonic justice system in place in France at the time Louisiana was acquired by the States.

[VPIDarkAngel]

Hey, at least they have "Reduced speed ahead" signs. Last year, when I went through Colorado, I didn't see a single one of 'em... That got old pretty quick, trying to slow 75,000lbs. without waking the trainer.
Either way, good luck with fighting that one.

[Biscuit Lips]

So in other words Musicman, you had absolutely no intentions of slowing down, got caught and are now playing the victim? By your own admission, you didn't even attempt to heed 45 mph zone, as you were 6mph over that, and now want to cry about the 35 mph zone? Obviously you were absent the day they taught personal responsibility in grade school.

BTW, the points isn't your only worry. 16 mph over is one of several major offenses that if convicted of two or more, in a 3 year period will result in a 60 day suspension of your CDL

Good luck Musicman, I hope you can find a way out of that ticket with out having to drive all the way down there.






P

[Justruckin]

On edit, I just noticed the date on the original post. I wonder what the outcome was?

Get an attorney to make sure none of this shows up on your record. Have you called the Mayor's office, as there must be a clerk or his wife there at least part time. If not, find out which parrish they are located in and call the parrish clerk. Ask them about a local attorney that will head in there and represent you and keep the points off your record.

And as far as the Mayor's court, it is either held at his house, yes his house, or at the cop shop/justice of the peace's house/office. At least that is my experience. But, one nice thing is, is that the Mayor is just out for your money. So, if you cannot find anyone to go, you should not have to hard of a time getting the violation changed to something else. Just take at least a grand cash with you... But don't get caught trying to bribe anyone, as then you will be sharing a cage next to the alligator pen out back after your beating and confiscation of your bribery funds as evidence. Find an attorney.

[Musicman]

On edit, I just noticed the date on the original post. I wonder what the outcome was?

Ask and ye shall receive.

I managed to find an attorney in Alexandria whose family has lived in Cheneyville since “before the war… that would be the Civil War,” or so he put it. He said that for $100 he was pretty sure that he could get the ticket changed to a non-moving violation and all I’d have to do is pay whatever money the city decided it wanted. I told him he was undercharging for his services and that I’d have paid 5x that to not have to appear and to not have any points on my license. He proceeded to tell me what a hard working, underappreciated bunch us truckers are and how he likes to help out when he can.

Now the ticket was to come before the “court” on October 23. My attorney and new found friend called me to inform me that the prosecutor hadn’t gotten around to looking at the ticket yet and I was to check back November 20. November 20 he calls me and says that they still hadn’t had a chance to get to the matter and that he called and talked to the prosecutor’s secretary who informed him that the prosecutor had a stack of about fifty tickets on his desk that all resembled mine and he wasn’t sure yet what he should do with them all. Check back December 18th I’m told. My attorney calls me December 18th and says, “Apparently this matter isn’t too high on the list of priorities for the mayor’s court or the prosecutor, because they STILL have no disposition on your ticket. Call back January 22nd… Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.”

Soooooooooooo, I don’t know what the heck is going on. I know I like this attorney. He comes across as a real southern gentleman type that is a no BS kinda guy. If his family has really been in Cheneyville for 150+ years, then I have little doubt that he has the esteem to get my ticket taken care of in a satisfactory manner, but all this darn suspense is killing me. I know in Louisiana nobody does much of anything in a hurry (this is not a jab at any southerners reading this, it’s just the way things usually are), but enough is enough already. Guess I’ll have to wait ‘til next year to see what happens.

[Fredog]

in the meantime, I would be VERY careful not to get stopped, they might just decide to get to it unannounced and issue a warrant for no show

[Musicman]

in the meantime, I would be VERY careful not to get stopped, they might just decide to get to it unannounced and issue a warrant for no show

I don't see that happening. I run my own license at least every month anyway as part of an identity theft protection plan. IF they did that, I could prove I've had representation in the matter the whole time. Yes, it would be an inconvenience, but I'm thinking the city of Cheneyville would have to make me whole (legally and financially) and they are only after money anyway, so doing that would not work to their advantage.