From Judges Doug Saloom and Francie Bouillion:
All sessions of the court from Monday to March 27 are canceled and will be rescheduled. All civil and criminal prescriptive periods remain unaffected at this time.
Cases will be reset and the court will send notice to the last address that was provided on file. It is defendant’s responsibility to ensure that the court has a current address.
If your address has changed, you must provide the new address in writing to the court by mail. The court’s mailing address is Post Office Box 3344, Lafayette, Louisiana 70502-3344.
You must include your full name as it appears on your old notice, your docket number and your new address including city, state and zip code. You can also provide a contact number and email address. All efforts will be made to contact each defendant.
Additional info:
SOME TRAFFIC AND CRIMINAL FINES CAN BE PAID ON THE COURT’S WEBSITE. EXISTING FINE AND RESTITUTION INSTALLMENT PAYMENTS ARE DEFERRED TO A LATER DATE SET BY COURT
The judges remind those having traffic tickets that most traffic tickets can be paid online by using the Court’s website, https://www.citycourtlafayettela.org/Home.aspx. Traffic and criminal fines can also be paid by mail, (do not send cash) payable to City Court of Lafayette, and mailed the court c/o Traffic Violations Bureau, Post Office Box 2086, Lafayette, Louisiana 70502. If your ticket is court mandatory, you will not be able to pay it online. Those matters will be reset by the court. You may be able to have your mandatory appearance waived but you must make the request by contacting the traffic/criminal department at the number provided below.
COURT REMAINS OPEN FOR NEW CIVIL AND CRIMINAL FILINGS BY MAIL, FAX OR E-MAIL (e-mail filings require prior approval of the court)
All civil pleadings, new petitions including new eviction proceeding, answers or other pleadings should be faxed to the court’s civil department at (337) 291-8771 in accordance with Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure Article 850.
LIMITED AMNESTY PERIOD ON EXISTING WARRANTS AND DRIVER’S LICENSE FORFEITURES
A limited amnesty period has been established by the Lafayette City Court Judges applying to all parties with existing criminal or traffic warrants or driver’s license forfeitures. The judges have declared an amnesty period from March 16 through March 27, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. During this period, warrants will be stayed for any person with an existing warrant or driver’s license forfeiture that contacts the criminal/traffic department at the phone number listed below and provides the following: Identifying information, including but not limited to race, gender, social security number, driver’s license number (if any); and date of birth; and also provides a new physical address, phone number and email address. If so contacted, a new court date will be provided and the warrant/license forfeiture will be stayed until the new court date. Notice will be provided by regular mail to the defendant. Should the defendant fail to appear at the new date the warrant or forfeiture will be reinstated. Should the defendant appear, the warrant or forfeiture will be recalled and all previous contempt waived. This amnesty only applies if you contact the court. Until such time, the warrant or forfeiture remains active and the person can be arrested.
CONTACT INFORMATION
For civil and eviction matters, call: (337) 291-8720, Option 3 or fax (337) 291-8771;
For criminal/traffic/OWI matters, call: (337) 291-8720, Option 2 or fax (337) 291-8774;
For fine payment questions, call: (337) 291-8720, Option 1;
For juvenile delinquent/traffic matters, call: (337) 291-8720, Option 4 or fax (337) 291-8181;
For court service/probation/review hearing matters, call: (337) 291-8845 or fax (337) 291-8181; and
For any matter not listed here, contact the Court Administrator at (337) 291-8720, Option 6.