If you have received a citation (from a peace officer or through the mail along with a court summons) or been released from jail on a personal bond for a Class C misdemeanor, you must decide what to do with the charge pending against you and let the Court know. This is called “entering an appearance.”

o You can appear in person or by mail.

o You cannot appear by telephone or by email.

o For a citation issued by a peace officer, you must appear between 5 and 14 days from the date of the citation.

o If you have received a summons or been released from jail on a personal bond, you must appear on or before the date specified in the summons or bond documents

When entering an appearance, you may:

o Plead not guilty and request a trial setting before a judge or a jury;

o Plead guilty or no contest to your traffic citation and sign up for a driving safety course, ifeligible; or

o Plead guilty or no contest and make payment arrangements for your citation, including payment in full, payment plans, and payment through community service hours.

Under our court system, all persons are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty. You have three pleas you may enter in your case: 

Plea of Guilty - By a plea of guilty you admit that the act is prohibited by law, that you committed the act charged, and that you have no defense or excuse for your act. You are choosing to pay the associated finewithout a formal trial.

Pleas of Nolo Contendere or "No Contest" - A plea of No Contest means that you do not contest the State's charge against you but you are also not pleading guilty. Unless you are eligible and successfully complete a driving safety course and/or deferred deposition program, the Court will enter a judgement of conviction.

Plea of Not Guilty - A plea of not guilty means that you deny guilt or that you have a defense in your case, and the State must prove what it has charged against you "beyond a reasonable doubt". If you plead not guilty, you have the right to a trial either by a Judge (known as a "bench" trial) or by a jury. You must also decide whether to hire a lawyer. There is no right to a court-appointed attorney in Class C misdemeanor court since these are fine-only offenses. However, if you represent yourself, you must do so without any assistance from the Court or friends or family.

If you have any questions about your options, you may set your case and speak for court and speak with the prosecutor or Judge.