Resolving Violations

Minor Criminal Traffic Violation

The traffic citation you received includes a court date and time. By that time, you will need to decide how you want to plead to your violation(s). You may enter three possible pleas:

• Guilty - This plea means that you admit you committed the violation stated on the complaint.
• Nolo Contendere/No Contest - This plea means that you do not wish to contest the charge(s) against you. You are allowing a Judge to enter a finding of guilty against you without your admitting any guilt.
• Not Guilty - This plea means that you deny that you committed the violation stated on the complaint and that the State must prove its charges against you at a trial. If you received a citation with more than one charge, you will need to enter a plea for each charge. You are not required to enter the same plea for all charges.

Options once you have decided your plea

• If your plea is "Guilty" or "No Contest" you may pay the amount of the fine by mail, in person or online on or before your court date, unless otherwise stated on the citation given to you by the police officer, or appear in Court on your assigned Court date to see a Judge and enter your plea (called Arraignment). (You also may have the option of attending a Driving Safety Course and receiving a dismissal of one violation.).
• If your plea is "Not Guilty" you may request that the complaint be set for a trial before either a Judge or jury.

What happens at a criminal traffic trial?

• The state is represented by a Prosecutor who must prove the charges against you, as stated on the complaint, beyond a reasonable doubt. The state presents its case first by calling witnesses to testify against you. You will be allowed to hear all the testimony against you, and if you wish, after each witness has testified, you will have a turn to ask questions of the witness.
• After the state has presented its case, you may present your case. You may call other witnesses to testify for you who know something about the incident. You may testify on your own behalf, but you are not required to do so. If you do not testify, your silence cannot be used against you.

Sentencing

If you are found "Guilty", the Judge will state your penalty. This penalty may be different from the amount listed on the Fine Schedule. Violations resulting from an accident may have an increased fine.

Appeals for Civil, Traffic or Criminal Cases

You have the right to appeal a final decision/judgment of the Missouri City Municipal Court, for both civil and criminal cases, by filing an appeal bond in the amount of twice the fine and costs within ten calendar days of the date of judgment. If the bond is approved, the case is transferred to the Fort Bend County Court for a trial de novo (new trial).