General Information on the Rules of the Court

Jurisdiction

Matters handled by Municipal Court

Traffic Violations
Include moving and non-moving violations, commercial vehicle violations, failure to maintain financial responsibility, no driver's license, etc.

Parking Violations
Violations of the State parking laws.

Class C Misdemeanors
Offenses punishable by a fine not to exceed $500 and including public intoxication, theft (less than $50), disorderly conduct, alcohol offenses involving minors, and assaults.

Violations of City Ordinance
Violations of city codes including those for fire safety, zoning, public health and sanitation, animal control, and solid waste

Appeals

Options to consider after the trial

If you are found guilty and are not satisfied with the judgment of the court, you have the right to appeal your case. To appeal, you must file an appeal bond with the municipal court within 10 days of the judgment if you appeared in open court. If you pled guilty or nolo contendere, waive your right to a jury trial and requested the amount of fine and appeal bond, put the request in writing and mail or deliver it to the court before your initial court appearance date, you have 31 days from the time you received a certified notice from the court to pay the fine or file an appeal bond with the municipal court.

The amount of the bond will be set by the judge and the form of the bond must be approved by the judge.

New Trial
If you are found guilty, you may make an oral or written motion to the court for a new trial. The motion must be made within one day after a judgment of guilt has been announced against you. The judge may grant a new trial if the judge is persuaded that justice has not been done in the trial of your case. Only one new trial may be granted for each offense.

Juveniles (under 17)

View information about juvenile case procedures

Court Options

View information on Pleas, Payment choices, & other case resolutions

The Trial Process

View information on Procedures for requesting trial, and the trial process

Court Appearances

Rules and guidelines for appearing in Court

The law requires that you appear in court to enter a plea on your case. If you were issued a citation, you must appear the 14th day of receipt of the citation. Your initial appearance may be in-person, by mail, or fax or by your attorney appearing in person at the court. The purpose of your initial appearance is to enter a plea (guilty, not guilty, or nolo contendere) and to advise the court as to the type of trial (jury or non-jury) that you want if you are pleading not guilty. There are separate rules for offenders sixteen years of age or less (see link in left column). If you have been released on bond, your appearance date is set on the bond. If you waive a jury trial and plead guilty or nolo contendere (no contest), you may talk to the judge about extenuating circumstances that you want the judge to consider when setting your fine, but the judge is not required to reduce your fine.

Before pleading guilty or no contest you ;should read the section on pleas (Court Options). If you plead not guilty, the court will schedule a trial. If you waive your right to a Jury Trial, the trial will be before a Judge.

When you make your appearance by mail, your envelope must be postmarked on or before the 14th day after you received your citation. If you plead guilty or no contest, you must include a waiver of jury trial. If you plead not guilty, the court will send you a notice setting the date of your trial.

Failure to Appear
If you fail to appear in-person, by mail, or fax by the 14th day after the date you received your citation or summons, or if you subsequently fail to appear for a pre-trail or trial setting, you can be charged with an additional offense of "Violation Of Promise To Appear" or "Failure to Appear" and a warrant for your arrest will be issued. The offenses of "Violation of Promise to Appear" and "Failure to Appear" carry with them additional court costs, fees, and fines. Your failure to resolve your offenses will result in reports being made to the Department of Public Safety, the Department of Transportation and Nueces County. You may be denied your right to renew your driver's license or to register a vehicle in your name.