New Orleans, LA Mobility & Curb Rules: Red-Light Cameras (2026)
Key Facts
- Red-light signal penalty (§154-1703(a))
- $105.00
- Speed camera, 1–9 mph over
- $45.00
- Speed camera, over 20 mph
- $205.00
- School-bus stop-arm penalty
- $300.00
- Late payment penalty
- $75.00 added
- Notice deadline after violation
- 30–60 days
- Appeal window to traffic court
- 30 days, $50 fee cap
Summary
New Orleans runs a civil, not criminal, automated traffic enforcement program covering red-light signals, school-zone speed, and school-bus stop-arm violations. The Police Department mails notices within 30 to 60 days, penalties run $45.00 to $300.00 depending on the offense, and owners can contest liability before the parking adjudication bureau with a further appeal to traffic court.
(a)The civil penalty for traffic control signal violations shall be $105.00.(b)The civil penalty for legal speed limit violations shall be as shown in the following table... 1 through 9 mph $45.00; 10 through 14 mph 80.00; 15 through 20 mph 130.00; Greater than 20 mph 205.00.(c)The civil penalty for school bus stop sign violations shall be $300.00... (e)An owner who fails to timely pay a civil penalty or timely challenge liability shall be subject to an additional late payment penalty of $75.00 in addition to the original violation penalty.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 116 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
City Code Article XVII, §§ 154-1701 through 154-1705, sets up the automated traffic enforcement system administered by the New Orleans Police Department, directly or through a contractor. A notice of violation must be mailed to the registered owner no later than 30 days after the violation or identification of the owner, whichever is later, and never more than 60 days after the violation. 00 for a school-bus stop-arm violation, which is administered with the Recovery School District and Orleans Parish School Board and whose penalty revenue is shared with the district under a cooperative endeavor agreement.
00 late payment penalty. 00 of every penalty listed goes to the Orleans Public Defenders indigent defender fund. 00. Section 154-1704 makes clear that the civil penalty is not a criminal conviction and is an alternative to, not a substitute for, an officer-issued citation. Speed cameras in school zones cannot operate unless the city has a cooperative endeavor agreement sharing at least 40% of net revenue with the school.
Violations & Fines
Traffic-signal camera violations carry a flat $105.00 civil penalty; school-zone speed camera violations scale from $45.00 (1-9 mph over) to $205.00 (more than 20 mph over); school-bus stop-arm camera violations carry a $300.00 penalty. Unpaid or unchallenged penalties add a $75.00 late fee plus up to $80.00 in enforcement costs, and unresolved debts can trigger vehicle immobilization, towing, or referral to a collection agency under § 154-1704(d).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a New Orleans red-light camera ticket a criminal offense?
How much is a red-light camera ticket in New Orleans?
How fast do you have to be going to get a school-zone speed camera ticket?
Can I appeal an automated traffic enforcement ticket in New Orleans?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in New Orleans
Compare New Orleans to another location·View the Louisiana mobility & curb rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.