Municipal Court FAQ - City of Helena

The purpose of the Helena Municipal Court is to handle misdemeanor cases- traffic and non-traffic, and parking tickets.

Payment received by mail should be in the form of MONEY ORDER or a CASHIER'S CHECK. PAYMENT MUST BE IN OUR OFFICE BY 1:00 ON THE SCHEDULED COURT DATE.

TRAFFIC TICKETS or NON-TRAFFIC CASES that are listed on the FINES SCHEDULE can be paid at the window by the person that received the citation.
If you are unclear about your court date or the amount of the fine, please call (205) 663-2161 Monday-Friday 8:00AM through 5:00PM.

IF THE CASE IS NOT PAID BEFORE YOUR COURT DATE OR YOU DO NOT APPEAR IN COURT, A WARRANT OF ARREST WILL BE ISSUED AND YOUR DRIVER LICENSE WILL BE SUSPENDED.

What forms of payment are accepted when paying a fine in person?

What are the procedures for a fix it ticket?

For a minor equipment violation our local ordinance allows you to have the equipment repaired within 72 hours excluding Sundays and Holidays. You must present your ticket to any law enforcement officer within the jurisdiction of the offense charged. This officer after inspection of your vehicle may, by signing below, recommend that the charge be dismissed. You must then deliver or forward the ticket to the court clerk on the address listed on the front of the ticket.

Can someone other than the offender pay the ticket?

Where are the locations available to pay a fine or ticket?

The Municipal Annex Building, Court Magistrate's Office.

Postal Mail/ FedEx/ UPS or other document service:
Send your ticket and a Cashier's Check or Money Order to:

Helena Municipal Court
816 Highway 52 East
Helena, Al 35080

In order to properly credit your ticket, the fine must be received by 1:00 on the scheduled court date.

Payment may be made in the Helena City Hall.

Our normal business hours are Monday- Friday from 8:00AM to 5:00PM.

Please bring your ticket or citation.

Payment can be made with CASH, MONEY ORDER, CASHIER'S CHECK. Debit or Credit Cards may be used but a 3% convenience fee will be added.

What are the procedures to have a warrant issued?

File a report with the police department.

Call the Magistrate's office to SET UP AN APPOINTMENT to have your report screened. It is up to the magistrate to determine whether or not a warrant will be issued.

Upon arrival, you will file a deposition with a magistrate. If there is probable cause, a warrant or summons will be issued.

Some important points to remember:

It takes approximately 45 minutes to an hour to file a warrant.
There is no charge for a warrant.

ONCE A WARRANT IS ISSUED IT CANNOT BE DROPPED OR CANCELLED.

What happens if a fine is not paid by the court date?

How can I plea other than guilty to a citation?

If this is my first moving violation can I attend Defensive Driving School?

If this is your first moving violation then you may qualify for driving school. The cost of the school is $200.00 and the classes are held every other month on a Thursday evening (contact the court for additional information). The classes are held at Helena City Hall in the Council Chambers from 6:00P.M.-9:00P.M. If you have questions about whether you qualify for the class, please call 205.663.2161 extension 116 or 114.

The State of Alabama does not have a Nolo Contendere Law and will not accept pleas of Nolo.

All fines paid by mail or in person to a Magistrate without going before a Judge are pled as guilty.

UNIFORM NON-TRAFFIC CITATION AND COMPLAINTS

A Uniform Non-Traffic Citation and Complaint has been issued against you. If you have been charged with one of these offenses and have not been convicted of on or more offenses during the preceding 12 months and would like to plead guilty and pay the fine, please mail or hand deliver your ticket (to be signed on the back- Plea of Guilty- Waiver of Rights, in front of a Magistrate) to the address below:

NOTE: Fine and costs are required when paying before going to court. All fines and court costs are to be paid to the City of Helena, Helena Alabama

Mail a money order or a cashier's check payable to the City of Helena. Please sign and mail the Plea of Guilty with your money order or cashier's check. Payment has to be received no later than 24 hours before the court date shown on the UNTCC. You do not have to wait until your court date to pay the UNTCC. However you should contact the magistrates office to see if you must appear in court.

would like a trial on your charge, you should speak with the Prosecutor during court on your court date. This trial will be in the Municipal Annex. The trial date will be set by the Prosecutor while you are in court. If you do not appear in court the date your trial is set, you may have to pay a substantially greater fine if found guilty of the offense charged or if guilty of failing to appear in court. Failure to appear could result in the suspension of your license and a warrant for your arrest issued.

Helena Municipal Court
816 Highway 52E
Helena, Al 35080

UNIFORM TRAFFIC CITATION AND COMPLAINTS

A traffic citation has been issued against you. If you have been convicted of more than two violations during the preceding 12 months, State Law requires you to appear in court. If you have not been convicted of two or more violations in the preceding 12 months and would like to plead guilty, pay the fine and court cost, but want to waive your right to appear in court, please mail the full amount to City of Helena 816 Highway 52 E Helena, Al 35080.

Fine and cost are required when paying before court.section 4 on the back of your ticket. All fines and court costs are to be paid to the City of Helena

CHARGES NOT LISTED BELOW REQUIRE A COURT APPEARANCE

Stopping on Highway (32-5A-136)(a)
Driving Wrong Side Road (32-5-77)
Failure to Dim Headlights (32-5-242)(C)(1)
Failure to Stop at RR Crossing (32-5A-150)
Unattended Motor Vehicle (32-5A-50)
Failure to Yield Right of Way (32-5A-110)
Failure to Maintain Single Lane of Traffic (32-5A-88)
One Way Street (32-5A-87)
Improper Backing (32-5-72)/ (32-5A-51)
Following Too Closely (32-5A-89)
Improper Brakes (32-5-212)
Improper Lights (32-5-240)
Improper Muffler (32-5-216)
Improper Signal (32-5A-133)
Improper Passing (32-5A-84)
Improper or No Rear View Mirror (32-5-214)
Improper Tires (32-5-210)
Improper Window Tinting (32-5C-2)
Improper Use of Clearly Indicated Divided Highway (32-5A-90)
No Passing Zone/ Improper Passing (32-5A-86)
Improper Turn (32-5A-133)
Improper (Expired) Tag (32-6-65)
Switched Tag (32-6-155)
No Helmet (Motorcycle rider) (32-5A-245)
Running Red Light (32-5A-31)
Running Stop Sign (32-5A-112)
Speeding (32-5A-171) LESS THAN 25 MPH over posted speed
Speeding (32-5A-171) 25 PMH or more over posted speed
Reasonable and Prudent Speed (32-5A-170)
Failure to Yield to Emergency Vehicle (32-5A-115)
No Red or Orange Flag or Red Light or Amber Strobe (32-5-211)
Failure to Use Child Restraint (32-5-222)
Spilling Load (32-5-76)(a)

Please call the Magistrate's Office at (205) 663-2161 ext 114 or 116 for additional information

Additional information:

ADC establishes the rate for copies.
Current rate is $5.00 for 1-20 pages, and $.50 for each additional page.
The rate for certification of copies is $5.00 extra, per page certified.

Copies of public records require filling out a REQUEST OF RECORDS form, which is located in our office. Once filled out, it will then have to be approved by the Chief of Police or Mayor and returned to our office. You will then be contacted with further instructions.

The Municipal Court of Helena exercises jurisdiction over all prosecutions for violations of traffic offenses, municipal ordinances, and state misdemeanors adopted by our Code of Ordinances.

Court personnel consists of a part-time judge and prosecutor, plus two full-time magistrates. Court is held on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday each month, except for May, November and December (Contact court to find out specific dates for those months). Court begins promptly at 4:00PM and ends when the last case has been heard.

Certain charges (which are located on the back of all citations) may be paid in person to a court magistrate without appearing in court, if you would like to enter a plea of guilty. "In person" meaning the individual whom received the citation.