FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Municipal Court Page
Q. Can I pay my ticket with a check or credit card?
- You may pay with cash, check, money order, cashier's check, MasterCard, or Visa. Other credit cards are not accepted. The City does accept credit card payments via telephone, but not by mail.
Q. Can I get a continuance?
- Court clerks are authorized to give one continuance. In order to receive this continuance, you must phone in prior to your court date and request the continuance.
Q. I have not paid my ticket and my court date is today.....
- If you haven't paid your ticket before your court date, you must come to court.
Q. Can I have an attorney represent me?
- In all cases in Municipal Court, you have a right to representation by an attorney. If you have been charged with an offense that may result in jail time as part of the sentence, and you want an attorney but cannot afford one, an attorney may be appointed for you. The Court will only appoint an attorney if you are indigent and there is a possibility you may go to jail. You will be asked to fill out a financial statement regarding your income and expenses and the judge will either approve or disapprove the appointment of counsel.
Q. Do I need an attorney to plead not guilty?
- No. The decision to be represented by an attorney is entirely up to you. You have the right to represent yourself in any proceedings this is called Pro Se representation.
Q. Can I get my ticket amended?
- The Court has recently put into place a policy for getting traffic tickets that are moving violations amended to non moving violations. Certain moving violations can be processed by the court clerk but some violations require you to see the prosecutor personally on your court date. Call the court clerk to verify your options.
Q. What is an Arraignment?
- Arraignment is the session of court in which you, the defendant, enter a plea to the charge against you. You may enter one of three pleas:
1. Pleading Guilty means you admit to committing the act charged, that the act is prohibited by law, and you have no defense for the act.
2. Pleading Not Guilty means you deny guilt and the City must prove in trial that the charges are true beyond a reasonable doubt. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
3. Pleading No Contest means you do not wish to contest the City’s charge against you but wish to talk to the Judge about mitigating circumstances. Judgment will be entered by the Judge and some penalty will be set. A plea of no contest cannot be used against you in a civil suit for damage.
Q. Can I have a Jury Trial?
- No. You can not have your case tried before a jury in Municipal Court.