Violations include citations for: traffic, fish and game, state park, minor in possession of alcohol and truancy. Make sure that your ticket is for the Circuit Court and is not for Municipal Court or Justice Court. Please review your citation for your appearance date and time. In most instances you may make your first appearance by telephone on or before your appearance date.
Plea Options
No Contest Plea: When you enter a plea of no contest, you waive your right to trial. Your fine will be assessed at the time you enter your no contest plea.
Not Guilty Plea: If you plead not guilty, the case will be set for trial and you will receive notice of the trial date in the mail. At the trial you may present evidence and call witnesses.
Trial by Declaration: You may choose to have your trial by declaration. You must submit a Violation Election Form with your declaration to the court. If you choose not to testify you do not have to submit a declaration, however, the court will consider the officer’s declaration in reaching a decision.
Mail the completed Violation Election Form and your declaration to the court on or before your scheduled appearance date.
Failure To Appear
If you do not appear on or before your first appearance date by telephone, mail or in person, the clerk will enter a default judgment. The entire presumptive fine will be charged along with any additional fees or assessments.
Violations Trials
When you appear at the courthouse for your trial, you should check in at the main floor windows, and a clerk will direct you to the correct courtroom. Please be prepared to present your case at the time listed on your trial notice. You do not have to testify if you do not want to. If you choose not to testify, the judge will not hold that against you and will base his or her decision on the evidence that is presented. If you fail to appear for trial after a plea of not guilty, the court will take testimony from the officer and make a ruling from the evidence presented.