Art. 955 Traffic violations; referral to juvenile traffic referee

If a kid gets a traffic ticket, the court doesn't always have to handle it with a regular judge. Local courts can set up a special traffic referee just for juvenile traffic cases. This referee has the power to decide whether the young person committed the violation and to decide what happens next, like any fines or penalties.

This system exists to help courts handle traffic cases more efficiently. Since traffic violations are usually less serious than other offenses, having a referee deal with them frees up judges to focus on more complex juvenile cases. Each local court decides for itself whether to set up this kind of system, so it may work differently depending on where the case is filed.

If your child's traffic case gets sent to a referee instead of a judge, this is normal and allowed under the law. The referee still has real authority to make decisions about the case, including determining guilt and issuing consequences.