Municipal Court

Mission Statement

To provide a forum for justice to ensure that all citizens served by the Municipal Court are treated fairly and equally, without regard to race, sex, and religion, while abiding by all applicable guidelines and laws.

Answering a Citation

Review the blue form attached to the citation.
This document contains information on how to resolve your citation.

Wait seventy-two (72) hours before contacting the court.
This waiting period is necessary to ensure that the court has received the citation from the police department and that it is entered into our system.

Appear Before the Court No Later Than 14 Days After the Offense Date.
You may make this appearance either in writing or in person. Telephone calls do not satisfy this requirement.

If you fail to make your appearance, a warrant for your arrest will be issued.
Additional warrant fees will be added to your offense, and for certain offenses an additional charge of "Violating Your Promise to Appear" will be added ($100 - $215) fine.

Enter a Plea.
Only the person whose name appears on the citation (other than a licensed attorney) can enter a plea. You may plead either:

Not Guilty
When you enter this plea, you are stating to the court that you believe you are innocent of the charge and you wish to have your case placed on the trial docket. You will have a jury trial scheduled unless you waive that right and request a trial before the judge. Judges may not dismiss tickets. In certain circumstances when a dismissal is authorized by law, the judge may dismiss your ticket (see Citation Dismissal ). If you believe you are not guilty, you should enter that plea and set your case for trial.

Guilty
Entering this plea means that you are admitting to the offense as charged. You will be required to pay the applicable fine plus all court costs.

Nolo Contendre (or No Contest)
This plea means that you are "not contesting" the offense. You are not admitting that you committed the offense nor are you denying it either. However, you understand that you will still be responsible for paying the applicable fine plus all court costs. A "no contest" plea may not be used at a subsequent civil trial as evidence of guilt.

Going to Court

All persons entering the Municipal Courthouse are subject to the following rules:

The courthouse is a secured environment. All persons and any hand carried items are subject to search.
Silence all cell phones and pagers. Any device sounding during court is subject to seizure and will not be returned until court is over.
Concealed handgun permits do not apply to a courthouse.
There is to be no talking while court is in session.
Keep your hands in plain sight and not in your pockets or jacket.
The judge should be addressed with "your honor".
No food, drink or gum chewing is allowed in the courtroom.
When addressing the Judge stand a few feet back from the bench, and do not lean on the bench.
Smoking is prohibited by law in all areas of city buildings.
Avoid bringing small children to court. If you must, please monitor their behavior so they remain quiet at all times. Parents may be asked to leave the courtroom if their child becomes noisy or unruly.
If you bring your friends or family to court with you, they are to remain seated while you speak with the judge at the bench.
Parents/guardians of juveniles should approach the bench with the child.
Disrupting the functions of the court and/or the clerk's office may result in additional charges being filed.

DRESS CODE

It is inappropriate to enter the courtroom unless you are wearing at least a t-shirt, pants (including Bermuda shorts in summer months) and shoes.

The Municipal Court reserves the right to refuse admittance in court to any person it deems is dressed inappropriately.

The following is a list of prohibited clothing:

t-shirts that carry offensive slogans or pictures
halter tops
tube tops
short skirts
short shorts (above the knee)
spaghetti strap shirts
sleeveless shirts
flip-flop sandals
hats and sunglasses

Parking Citations

Who Is Responsible for Paying a Parking Citation?
The registered owner of a vehicle by law is responsible for all parking violations committed using that vehicle regardless of who was operating the vehicle at the time.

Can I Have a Trial Over a Parking Citation?
Yes. If you believe you are not guilty of the offense for which you have been issued the citation, you may plead "not guilty" and request a trial before the court or before a jury.

How Long Do I Have to Pay My Parking Citation?
You must pay your parking citation on or before the 15th business day after the parking citation was issued. Citation envelopes postmarked later than 15 business days will incur additional charges.

What Happens if I Fail to Pay?
Vehicles with outstanding parking tickets are subject to "booting". When a vehicle is "booted," it is held in place by a restraining device. The vehicle may also be towed at the owner's expense. The vehicle does not have to be in illegally parked at the time that it is seized.
Any vehicle with one or more parking citations outstanding for more than 30 days may be immobilized by the City of Tyler until payment is received. An additional charge of $50.00 will be added at the time the boot is put on your vehicle. Additional charges and/or penalties are assessed after a vehicle has been immobilized more than 24 hours.

How Do I Get the "Parking Boot" Removed from My Car?
To get a boot removed or towed vehicle released, you must come to the Court and pay all fees due. Please remember that partial payments will not cancel a boot or tow order.

What To Do If You Believe a Citation Was Issued in Error
If you received a parking notice letter in error (i.e., you no longer own the car), please write to the Tyler Municipal Court at 813 North Broadway, Tyler, TX 75702. Explain why the parking citation(s) in question does not belong to you.

If you no longer own the vehicle, please provide enough information for us to contact the new owner. Normally the transfer of sale document will be sufficient. You will continue to receive notices if additional citations are received as long as the State shows the title of the vehicle in your name.

To correct registration records through the State Dept. of Transportation, call or write this agency at the following address:

Texas Department of Transportation
Division of Vehicle Titles and Registration
40th Street and Jackson Avenue
Austin, TX 78779-0001
Phone: (512) 465-7611

Juvenile Offenders & Partners for Youth

Appearance of Juvenile Defendant & Parents
If a defendant is younger than 17 years of age and has not had the disabilities of minority removed, the judge must take the defendant's plea in open court and shall issue a summons to compel the defendant's parent, guardian, or managing conservator to be present during the taking of the defendant's plea all other proceedings relating to the case.

Expunction of Certain Conviction Records of Children
"Child" means a person who is ten (10) years of age or older and under seventeen (17) years of age. A person convicted of not more than one misdemeanor punishable by fine only other than public intoxication or a violation of a penal ordinance of a political subdivision, while the person was a child may, on or after the person's 17th birthday, apply to the court in which the child was convicted to have the conviction expunged.

The person must make a written request to have the records expunged. The request must be under oath. The request must contain the person's statement that the person was not convicted while the person was a child of any other offense, other than the offense the person seeks to have expunged.

This does not apply to any offense otherwise covered by
(1) Chapter 106, Alcoholic Beverage Code;
(2) Chapter 161, Health and Safety Code; or
(3) Section 25.094, Education Code.

Records of a person under 17 years of age relating to a complaint dismissed as provided by Article 45.051 (Deferred Disposition and Defensive Driving) or 45.052 (Teen Court) may be expunged under this article.

The justice or municipal court may not require a person who requests expungement under this article to pay any fee or court costs.

Failure of Juvenile to Pay Fines as Ordered by the Court
A justice or municipal court may not order the confinement of a child for the failure to pay all or any part of a fine or costs imposed for the conviction of an offense punishable by fine only or contempt of another order of a justice or municipal court.

If a child fails to obey an order of a justice or municipal court under circumstances that would constitute contempt of court, the justice or municipal court, after providing notice and an opportunity to be heard, may refer the child to the appropriate juvenile court for delinquent conduct for contempt of the justice or municipal court order; or retain jurisdiction of the case, hold the child in contempt of the justice or municipal court, and order either or both of the following that the contemnor pay a fine not to exceed $500; or that the Department of Public Safety suspend the contemnor's driver's license or permit or, if the contemnor does not have a license or permit, to deny the issuance of a license or permit to the contemnor until the contemnor fully complies with the orders of the court.

Failure to Attend School
On a finding by a municipal court that an individual has committed an offense under Section 25.094, Education Code, the court has jurisdiction to enter an order that includes one or more of the following provisions requiring that the individual:
(1) attend school without unexcused absences;
(2) attend a preparatory class for the high school equivalency examination administered under Section 7.111, Education Code, if the court determines that the individual is too old to do well in a formal classroom environment; or
(3) if the individual is at least 16 years of age, take the high school equivalency examination administered under Section 7.111, Education Code;
(4)attend a special program that the court determines to be in the best interest of the individual, including an alcohol and drug abuse program, a rehabilitation program, a counseling program, including self-improvement counseling, a program that provides training in self-esteem and leadership, a work and job skills training program, a program that provides training in parenting, including parental responsibility, a program that provides training in manners, a program that provides training in violence avoidance, a program that provides sensitivity training, and a program that provides training in advocacy and mentoring.

The court may also require the individual and the individual's parent attend a class for students at risk of dropping out of school.

The court may require the individual complete reasonable community service requirements, or for the total number of hours ordered by the court, the individual participate in a tutorial program covering the academic subjects in which the student is enrolled provided by the school the individual attends.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the Court or its employees provide me with legal advice on how to handle my citation?
No. Court employees (including the judge) are strictly prohibited by law from providing legal advice to anyone.

Do I have to employ an attorney to represent me in Municipal Court?
No. You can represent yourself. Municipal Courts are not required by law to appoint you a lawyer, but you may retain one yourself. No one other than a lawyer can represent you in court. This applies to parents of juveniles. If you are not an attorney you cannot represent your child in a trial.

Can I pay my fine in installments?
The Court has a payment plan option.

If there is a mistake on the ticket. Does that make it invalid?
Not necessarily. If you plead "guilty" or "no contest," the issue is immaterial. If you plead "not guilty," a complaint is generated. The contents of the complaint are relevant with regard to a trial.

Can the Judge dismiss my ticket?
A judge can only dismiss a citation if he is given the authority by statute or because of a standing agreement with the City Attorney's Office. See "Citation Dismissals" for more information.

I just want to tell the Judge my story. Will he/she talk to me?
Yes, but only if you enter a plea of "no contest" or "guilty". Upon a plea of "not guilty," the Judge is not allowed to hear any details of the case until the day of trial. This ensures fairness to both the defendant and the state. All conversations with the Judge must be in the courtroom. The Judge is not allowed to discuss the case outside the courtroom and outside the presence of both parties. The judge cannot take phone calls.

Is this charge going to revoke my probation?
If you are on probation in a court, other than the Municipal Court in Tyler, you should refer this question to your probation officer.

Is this ticket going on my driving record?
Generally, all moving violations will appear on your driving record. Some others such as Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility and No Driver's license will appear as well. If you want to keep an offense off of your record, you should request Defensive Driving or Deferred Disposition. See "Defensive Driving" and/or "Deferred Disposition" for more information.

Can I reset my court date over the telephone?
No. All requests for reset or continuance must be made in writing. The request must be received 72 hours prior to your court date and must also list a reason why you need to reset with any proof that you can provide.

What action may be taken if a defendant fails to respond to a summons to come to court?
If a defendant fails to appear in response to a summons to come to court an additional charge of "Failure to Appear" (FTA) will be filed and a warrant shall be issued. The fine for an FTA is $415.00.

What action may be taken if a person who is notified to serve as a juror does not appear?
Any person summoned who fails to attend may be fined $100.00 for contempt. See "Jury Service" for more information.

How may the court enforce a subpoena?
If a witness refuses to obey a subpoena he/she may be fined at the discretion of the court and writ of attachment may be issued. A writ of attachment is an order from the Judge to a law enforcement officer to immediately take this person into custody and bring them before the court.

I have a warrant for my arrest, who do I need to speak with?
Any court clerk will be able to assist you explaining your options regarding warrants arising from the issuance of City of Tyler tickets. You may speak to a clerk by calling (903) 531-1266.

I would like to dismiss the charges of assault and the Prosecutors Office will not let me drop the charges.
You and the defendant must appear in court on the assigned court date. At this time, you may request charges to be dismissed. The State, represented by the Prosecutor, may proceed on the case even if you drop the charges.

I was placed on payment plan and for some reason I defaulted on the agreement. How can I reinstate the plan?
Payment Plans are administered by the court. You will need to contact the court at (903) 531-1266 to determine your options.

I need an extension to pay the fine.
Contact the court at (903) 531-1266.

Can you tell me what time and date is my court setting?
You can obtain this information from the court at (903) 531-1266.

My deadline has passed to complete or return the driving safety certificate. What do I need to do?
Contact the court at (903) 531-1266.

Someone has received a ticket in my name, how can I get this corrected?
You will need to appear at the court, 813 N. Broadway, Tyler, TX. The court clerk will then take the necessary steps to help correct this problem.

I need information regarding a County, Federal or Department of Public Safety Office.

County Information (903) 590-2600
Federal Information (800) 366-2998
Dept. Public Safety (903) 939-6000

I received a letter from the Department of Public Safety regarding the suspension of my drivers license. How do I get this corrected?
You will need to contact the local DPS office for further information or the person whom sent you the letter.

Statewide Warrant Sweep!

Tyler Municipal Court is participating in a STATEWIDE WARRANT SWEEP.
Last week Tyler had over 700 warrants cleared, and over 80 people were arrested.

ARE YOU NEXT?

Call (903) 531-1266 of come to the Court to take care of your warrants.

You will not be arrested if you voluntarily come in to pay.