VENUS MUNICIPAL COURT

To obtain information on a particular Court docket or questions about your citation, please contact the Clerk's Office at (972) 366-3348. A citation may not be disposed of by phone - you must appear in person or by mail.

The Venus Municipal Court adjudicates Class C misdemeanor offenses and city ordinance violations punishable by fine only. The Court is staffed with 2 clerks who can assist you daily from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Court clerks are not licensed attorneys and CANNOT provide you with legal advice.

The Municipal Court currently accepts personal checks, money orders, and cashier's checks when paying by mail. Cash payments will be accepted only when you pay in person. Credit Cards are now being accepted in the Court Clerks office and over the phone. Please note that a plea must be entered in writing or in person before a payment over the phone can be made.

There will be a $2.00 processing fee added to each credit card payment.

COURT APPEARANCES

Entering an Appearance

After receiving a citation, you have eleven (11) days to enter an appearance with the Court. A PHONE CALL DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN APPEARANCE. You or your attorney may appear by delivering your plea in person or by mail to the court offices at 105 E. Hwy 67 Venus, Tx 76084. Your plea options are found on the back of your ticket. You or your attorney can also request to appear in open court before the Judge on an Arraignment Docket. This arraignment docket is to determine your plea. 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. If you plead not guilty, the court will schedule a trial.

Failure to Appear

If you fail to appear in person or by mail with your plea, an additional charge of failure to appear or violation of written promise to appear, which carries additional penalties, could be issued. In addition, a warrant for your arrest may be issued and you may not be permitted to register your vehicle in this state. A person who fails to appear in court for a complaint, citation, or court order to pay a fine involving a violation of a traffic law may be denied renewal of his/her driver's license.

Be advised that you are subject to arrest by any agency confirming the warrant for your arrest. An arrest warrant will remain active until the fines and fees have been paid or a bond has been posted.

FINE INFORMATION - The amount of the fine the court assesses is determined only by the facts and mitigating circumstances of the case. Mitigating circumstances may lower the fine, even if you are guilty. On the other hand, aggravating circumstances may increase the fine. The maximum fine for most municipal court traffic violations is $200, for municipal code violations $500, for certain city ordinance violations $2,000 and for other city ordinance violations $500. For the standard fine on your ticket call (972) 366-3348 ext. 201 or 202.

COURT COSTS - In addition to a fine, court costs mandated by state law will be charged. The costs are different depending on the offense and on the date the ticket was issued. You need to check with the court for the amount that will be assessed to the violation on which you are charged. If you request a jury trial, an additional $3.00 jury fee is assessed. If you are given a payment plan that goes longer than 30 days, a $25 fee is assessed. If a warrant was served or processed by a peace officer, an additional $50 fee is also assessed. Court Cost are included on all tickets, regardless of whether you have a trial date or not.

Speeding 1-10 Speeding 11-15

Speeding 16-20

Speeding 21-24

Speeding 25-30

Speeding 31 and over

Spd. 1-10 school zone

Spd. 11-15 school zone

Spd. 16-20 school zone

Spd. 21-24 school zone

Spd. 25-up school zone

**FMFR

* Exp. Inspection

* Exp. Registration

* Exp. D.L.

**Fail to Display D.L.

Violate D.L. Restriction

Ran Stop Sign/Light

Failure to Appear

Public Intoxication

Open Container

Child (4-17) no seat belt

Unrestrained Child

Here are some standard ticket amounts (both court cost & fines)

These are just standard fines and are subject to change without notice

$269.00

$144.00

$114.00

$144.00

$244.00

$214.00

$247.00

* You may be able to have this charge dismissed and pay a $20 administrative fee, provided you show proof to the Court that you corrected the defect within 10 working days after the date the citation was issued. Must be presented to the court by your appearance date.

** You may be able to have this charged dismissed, provided you show proof to the Court that you had a valid Driver's License / Proof of Financial Responsibility AT THE TIME the citation was issued.

$119.00

$144.00

$169.00

$194.00

$244.00

$294.00

$164.00

$214.00

$264.00

$314.00

$322.00

click here for instructions on

DEFERRED DISPOSITION (probation)


			VENUS MUNICIPAL COURT 105 E. Hwy 67 / P.O. Box 380 Venus, TX 76084 Phone: 972-366-3348 ext. 201 or 202 Fax: 972-366-3824 To obtain information on a particular Court docket or questions about your citation, please contact the Clerk's Office at (972) 366-3348. A citation may not be disposed of by phone - you must appear in person or by mail. The Venus Municipal Court adjudicates Class C misdemeanor offenses and city ordinance violations punishable by fine only. The Court is staffed with 2 clerks who can assist you daily from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Court clerks are not licensed attorneys and CANNOT provide you with legal advice. MAKING PAYMENTS The Municipal Court currently accepts personal checks, money orders, and cashier's checks when paying by mail. Cash payments will be accepted only when you pay in person. Credit Cards are now being accepted in the Court Clerks office and over the phone. Please note that a plea must be entered in writing or in person before a payment over the phone can be made. To pay by phone call 972-366-3348 ext. 202 or 201 There will be a $2.00 processing fee added to each credit card payment. COURT APPEARANCES Entering an Appearance After receiving a citation, you have eleven (11) days to enter an appearance with the Court. A PHONE CALL DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN APPEARANCE. You or your attorney may appear by delivering your plea in person or by mail to the court offices at 105 E. Hwy 67 Venus, Tx 76084. Your plea options are found on the back of your ticket. You or your attorney can also request to appear in open court before the Judge on an Arraignment Docket. This arraignment docket is to determine your plea. 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. If you plead not guilty, the court will schedule a trial. Example of your ticket X Enter a plea of Guilty or No Contest Enter a plea of Not Guilty X Venus 5/21/2007 1005 Make Believe Dr. John Doe 76084 TX Failure to Appear If you fail to appear in person or by mail with your plea, an additional charge of failure to appear or violation of written promise to appear, which carries additional penalties, could be issued. In addition, a warrant for your arrest may be issued and you may not be permitted to register your vehicle in this state. A person who fails to appear in court for a complaint, citation, or court order to pay a fine involving a violation of a traffic law may be denied renewal of his/her driver's license. Be advised that you are subject to arrest by any agency confirming the warrant for your arrest. An arrest warrant will remain active until the fines and fees have been paid or a bond has been posted. COST OF YOUR TICKET FINE INFORMATION - The amount of the fine the court assesses is determined only by the facts and mitigating circumstances of the case. Mitigating circumstances may lower the fine, even if you are guilty. On the other hand, aggravating circumstances may increase the fine. The maximum fine for most municipal court traffic violations is $200, for municipal code violations $500, for certain city ordinance violations $2,000 and for other city ordinance violations $500. For the standard fine on your ticket call (972) 366-3348 ext. 201 or 202. COURT COSTS - In addition to a fine, court costs mandated by state law will be charged. The costs are different depending on the offense and on the date the ticket was issued. You need to check with the court for the amount that will be assessed to the violation on which you are charged. If you request a jury trial, an additional $3.00 jury fee is assessed. If you are given a payment plan that goes longer than 30 days, a $25 fee is assessed. If a warrant was served or processed by a peace officer, an additional $50 fee is also assessed. Court Cost are included on all tickets, regardless of whether you have a trial date or not. Speeding 1-10 Speeding 11-15 Speeding 16-20 Speeding 21-24 Speeding 25-30 Speeding 31 and over Spd. 1-10 school zone Spd. 11-15 school zone Spd. 16-20 school zone Spd. 21-24 school zone Spd. 25-up school zone *FMFR Exp. Inspection * Exp. Registration * Exp. D.L. *Fail to Display D.L. Violate D.L. Restriction Ran Stop Sign/Light Failure to Appear Public Intoxication Open Container Child (4-17) no seat belt Unrestrained Child Here are some standard ticket amounts (both court cost & fines)* These are just standard fines and are subject to change without notice $269.00 $144.00 $114.00 $114.00 $114.00 $114.00 $144.00 $244.00 $214.00 $214.00 $247.00 $247.00 * You may be able to have this charge dismissed and pay a $20 administrative fee, provided you show proof to the Court that you corrected the defect within 10 working days after the date the citation was issued. Must be presented to the court by your appearance date. You may be able to have this charged dismissed, provided you show proof to the Court that you had a valid Driver's License / Proof of Financial Responsibility AT THE TIME the citation was issued. $119.00 $144.00 $169.00 $194.00 $244.00 $294.00 $164.00 $214.00 $264.00 $314.00 $322.00 click here for instructions on DEFERRED DISPOSITION (probation) click here for instructions on DRIVER'S SAFETY COURSE**