Fines and Tickets

FAQ – Fines and Tickets

What Law Enforcement Agency Tickets are collected by the Tax Collector’s Office? 

The Tax Collector’s Office collects payments for tickets issued by the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office, The Louisiana State Police, and Choudrant Police Department.  

How long does it take to get the ticket in your system? 

It can take several days for tickets to reach the Tax Collector Office, depending on who issued the ticket and when it was issued.  In general, you can contact our office about two or three weeks after you received the ticket to find out the amount owed.  

My ticket has a court date on it. Do I have to come to court? 

There are certain offenses that require a mandatory court appearance. Please contact our office if you are unsure whether you must appear.  

How long do I have to pay my ticket? 

Tickets must be paid prior to the court date noted on the ticket.

How do I pay my ticket? 

In Person. Payments can be made in person at the Tax Collector’s Office.   We ONLY accept cash or certified funds (money order or cashier’s check).

Credit Card Payment.  A credit card can be used to make a payment through one of two methods, both of which require that you have the ticket number and amount due:

Online payments can be made through a third-party website that can be accessed from the “Pay Your Fine” link on the Sheriff’s Office main website.

By Telephone by calling 855-796-5623.  

You can contact our office to get the amount of the fine owed.  

Can I make partial payments on my ticket? 

Partial payments are not accepted unless a plea has been made in front of the judge.  

What happens if I don’t pay my ticket? 

If you do not pay your ticket by the court date, and do not appear in court, a Bench Warrant will be issued. The Bench Warrant is an additional $75 cost per charge on the ticket, and could result in your being picked up by local law enforcement. Additionally, your driver’s license could be suspended.  

Does the ticket go on my record? 

Payment of a ticket is essentially an admission of guilt and will be reported to the Department of Motor Vehicles for the state in which your driver’s license was issued.  

Is there a way to keep the ticket off my record? 

The Tax Collector’s Office is only responsible for collecting the fines.  However, the District Attorney’s Office does offer a diversion program for qualifying offenses.  If you qualify, you should receive a letter from their office with details on this program.  These letters are sent to the address on your driver’s license.  If you wish to contact them about the program, they can be reached at 318-251-5100.