Municipal Court Prosecutions

Court Appearance

If you receive a summons or subpoena, you are legally required to appear in court unless the Municipal Court Judge tells you otherwise. Official court business cannot be handled over the phone. All requests must be made in person at the courthouse. Unless you are experiencing an emergency, most court matters can be taken care of on your regularly scheduled court date.

Traffic Offenses

Minor traffic violations such as running a stop sign, speeding, or equipment issues can usually be paid before your court date. Please wait one week after receiving your citation to allow time for the ticket to be filed with the court before attempting to pay. If you wish to contest a traffic citation, you should appear in Municipal Court on the date listed on your ticket.

Municipal Court accepts cash, cashier’s checks, money orders, and credit/debit cards. If you mail a payment, it must be a cashier’s check or money order.

Serious traffic offenses, such as reckless driving, attempting to elude law enforcement, or driving with a suspended or revoked license, require a court appearance.

Misdemeanor Offenses

Most non‑traffic misdemeanor charges also require a court appearance. You may hire an attorney at any time, but you are not required to retain one before your first appearance, called arraignment. During arraignment, you will have the opportunity to request a trial and ask for an attorney.

If you qualify as indigent, the judge may appoint the Public Defender’s Office to represent you. Contact information for the Public Defender will be provided during court.

Important Reminders

Before leaving court, make sure all your questions are answered and that you clearly understand any future court dates. Missing a required court appearance can result in an arrest warrant.