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The municipal court mainly handles non-indictable disorderly persons (misdemeanors) and traffic cases including DUIs. The courts ensure the fair and efficient service of justice in a timely manner. If you need help, a municipal court attorney could help you.
Cases Commonly Handled by The Municipal Court
Municipal courts handle a variety of cases on a daily basis. While offenses are serious, they are typically deemed lesser crimes. Below is a list of the cases that a municipal court will handle:
- Motor vehicle and traffic violations
- Disorderly and petty disorderly persons offenses
- Violations of Fish and Game laws, Parks and Forests, Weights and Measurements, SPCA and Boating Regulations
- Violations of local laws
If you commit a more serious offense, then the courts could send your case to the County Prosecutor’s office. The County Prosecutor will decide whether or not to present your case to a Grand Jury or send it back to the municipal court.
If you or someone you know is charged with any of these offenses, consult a municipal court attorney. They could have your charges dismissed or lessen your penalties. A municipal court attorney can also offer legal advice that may help you throughout the legal process.
Municipal Court Penalties
Fines
A judge decides your fines by following the laws that determine the amount that you must pay. Sometimes the law allows for minimum penalties or requires mandatory assessments. If you cannot make payments in full, the Judge may allow for payment installations. You may be able to apply for partial payments as well. This process will require you to sign a court order explaining the terms of your payments. If you fail to comply with the terms of your order, you could have your license suspended or even face an arrest.
Jail
The maximum amount of jail time that can be imposed for municipal court cases is six months. You will serve time in a county jail. Additionally, as the defendant, the could allow you to serve your term on the weekends. You might also qualify for work release through the Jail’s Work Release Administrator.
If you are facing the possibility of jail time through the municipal court, you should consider hiring a municipal court attorney. They will help you navigate the legal process and make negotiations on your behalf. Likewise, they may also be able to lessen your sentence.
License Suspension
Many municipal court offenses require license suspension for a minimum amount of time. For instance, before you can drive again, you must wait until the end of the suspension period. From there, you can pay your restoration fee and receive a written statement from the Motor Vehicle Commission. This written statement verifies the restoration of your driving privileges.
Community Service
The law requires community service for certain traffic violations and some criminal convictions. Community service requires the defendant to work for a municipality or non-profit organization for a certain amount of time, without receiving compensation. If you do not complete your community service, the courts could revisit your case.
Municipal courts handle different legal matters, such as misdemeanors and traffic violations. Even though these cases are often considered minor, you may want to employ an attorney to help you. If you have questions about municipal court offenses, consider contacting Leon Matchin by emailing him at [email protected].
