Civil Infractions

All Civil Infractions are handled by the Traffic Division. You may schedule a Pre-Hearing Conference (PHC) with the City Attorney to contest a ticket or pay preset fines in this division any time prior to the hearing date. If you do not have a court date on the ticket, please contact the court within 10 days after receiving the ticket, to schedule a Pre-Hearing Conference with the City Attorney. 

If you are unable to reach a plea agreement with the City Attorney, you may request an informal hearing. The informal hearing is held before a Judge or Magistrate. The police officer who issued the citation will be present. No attorneys will be present. Both you and the police officer will have the opportunity to offer testimony, after which the Judge or Magistrate will render a judgment of “responsible” or “not responsible”. If you are found responsible, you will be assessed fines and costs, which must be paid that same day. If required, the Court will report the finding to the Secretary of State, and points may be added to your driving record.

If you wish to appeal a finding of “responsible” at the informal hearing, you may request a formal hearing. In order to be scheduled for a formal hearing, you must post a cash bond in the amount of the fine for the offense on which you were found responsible at the informal hearing. The formal hearing is held before a judge. All parties may be represented by an attorney. The Judge will listen to testimony by both parties and find you either "not responsible" or "responsible." If the Judge finds you responsible, your cash bond will be applied to pay fines, costs, and assessments. If you are found not responsible, your bond may be returned to you.  If required, the Court will report the finding to the Secretary of State, and points may be added to your driving record.