Municipal Court

• I am the victim or the City’s witness in a Municipal Court case. How will I know when to come to court?

  If you are the victim or City’s witness in a case, the City Prosecutor’s Office will only notify you if your presence is needed on that date. Victims and the City’s witnesses may contact the City Prosecutor’s Office for more information.

• How much time do I have to pay my traffic ticket?

  You have until the scheduled court date to pay a fine. Fines ordered by the judge are due the same day.

• If my ticket is payable, can I still plead not guilty and see a judge?

  If you wish to dispute the citation, you must appear at your virtual or in-person court date, and enter a “not guilty” plea. 

• What if I need additional time to pay?

  You may request a payment plan. The finance team will enter all outstanding money due on a payment contract. Fines for multiple tickets can be included in one contract. You will be required to make your first payment within 30 days if none of the cases in your payment plan are in warrant status. If you have any cases in warrant status, you will be required to pay 25% of the total balance before the payment contract will be issued and the warrants canceled. You may make payment plan payments online, by mail, at the lobby drop box before security or in person at the Violations Bureau. You also may make a partial payments and installment payments online.

• How do I attend my virtual hearing?

  About 5-10 minutes before your hearing, go to virtual hearings. Scroll down and click the virtual hearing link for the courtroom or call in using the number. When prompted, enter the Meeting Number. 

• What if I miss my virtual hearing?

  If you miss your virtual hearing you will be scheduled for an in-person hearing. If you miss any in-person hearing the judge will issue a failure to appear warrant.

• What time should I arrive for my in-person court date?

  Please arrive 30-45 minutes before your scheduled in-person hearing to allow enough time to go through security. Defendants are responsible for being on time and present in court when their cases are called. Those who are not could have a warrant issued for their arrest for failing to appear for the hearing.

• I missed my in-person court date and my case has gone into warrant status, what do I do?

  If the case is payable, your options are to either 1. Plead guilty and pay your fine; 2. Plead guilty and enter a payment plan and pay 25% of the total balance; 3. Post a bond to get a new court date; or 4. Appear at a walk-in docket to talk to a judge about recalling your warrant. Be aware that the judge may or may not order you to be taken into custody.

  If the case is non-payable, you may either 1. Post bond to receive a new court date; or 2. Appear at a walk-in docket to talk to a judge about recalling your warrant. Be aware that the judge may or may not order you to be taken into custody.

• What if I need an interpreter or disability accommodation for my court date?

   If you or a witness is deaf or hearing impaired, you have the right to request assistance, including an interpreter.  Request help at least three (3) days before your court date, by calling 816-513-2700 at contacting the City’s ADA Coordinator at kcmoada@kcmo.org or 816-513-1818. If you need help with other ADA disabilities, please call 573-7514377 or send an email to access2justice@courts.mo.gov. 

• Can someone else take care of my warrant?

  An attorney is the only person that can appear on your behalf in court.

• How can I find an attorney?

  The Missouri Bar maintains a Legal Resource phone line at 573-636-3635, which contains information about various legal resources available to the public or you may go to the Missouri Bar Lawyer Search Service.

• What if I cannot afford to hire an attorney?

  You can apply for a court-appointed Legal Aid attorney or make that request at your first-appearance arraignment. There will be paperwork to complete regarding income and other determining factors. If pre-qualified your case will be continued to a future docket where a Legal Aid attorney will be present. This will be an in-person hearing. Legal Aid of Western Missouri’s phone number is 816-474-6750.

• How can I find a professional bail bondsmen?

  The 16th Circuit Court of Jackson County website includes a list of bail bondsmen who have been approved for the purpose of signing various bail bonds as sureties and/or as attorneys-in-fact.

• Can I post bond online?

  No. All bonds must be posted in person either at the Violations Bureau on the first floor of the courthouse, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, exculding holidays,  or 24/7 at designated Kansas City Missouri Police Department patrol stations. Bonds cannot be posted online.

• How do I get back my bond money?

  Keep your address updated. Bond refunds are mailed to the address we have on file and arrive in 7 to 10 business days. 

• My license is suspended or I received notification from the DMV that my license will be suspended. What do I do?

  Information regarding Missouri point assessment and suspended/revoked licenses is available at the Missouri Department of Revenue.

• How do I get my driver license reinstated?

  Driver license reinstatement requirements are available at the Missouri Department of Revenue.