Traffic and Violations

FIRST APPEARANCE or ARRAIGNMENT:

An arraignment allows you the opportunity to appear in person before the judge to enter your plea in Court.  At any time PRIOR to your arraignment date, you may enter your plea in writing. No pleas will be accepted by fax.  The Judge will set a fine on the charges when you have entered a No Contest plea.  Court clerks, by means of general order (General Order below in Supporting Documents) from the Judge, can review your citation and reduce the fine amount, if appropriate.

An arraignment date is set at the time you receive your citation; this date/time is listed on the bottom of your citation.  Arraignments are held on Mondays and Wednesdays at 9:00 am and 5 p.m.  Check your citation for the time you are scheduled to appear.  If your citation indicates that an appearance is MANDATORY, you must appear before the Judge on the date/time listed on your citation.  You do not need to speak directly with the Judge unless your citation indicates a mandatory appearance.  However, you do need to take care of your citation on or before your arraignment date or you will be found Guilty by Default and the max fine will be added and your license may be suspended.

TRIALS:

Trials and arraignments are two different things.  The Judge is not allowed to hear testimony on a case scheduled for trial without both sides being present.

There is no grace period for a trial.  If you miss a scheduled trial, you will be found guilty by default, the max fine imposed, and your license may be immediately suspended.  If there are extenuating circumstances that arise prior to the scheduled trial date, contact the court immediately in writing.  It is possible that a one-time postponement may be granted, but it is at the Judge's discretion.  Law enforcement officers are often scheduled for multiple trials at the same time.

If you are not able to physically appear at your scheduled trial, you may request to submit your written testimony in lieu of submitting your testimony orally.  Your testimony by affidavit must be received by the trial date and time and must be notarized in order for the Judge to consider the written statement as your appearance.

Waiver and Testimony by Affidavit available as PDF below in Supporting Documents.