Search Glendale Traffic Court Records
Traffic court records in Glendale are kept at the Glendale City Court located at 5711 W Glendale Avenue. The court handles all traffic citations written by Glendale police officers within city limits. You can search cases, pay fines, and request records through online systems or in person at the courthouse. Court hours are Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM. The court is closed on weekends and holidays. Citations from state troopers or county deputies do not go to Glendale City Court. Those tickets go to Maricopa County Justice Courts. Most traffic cases in Glendale are civil violations like speeding or running a red light. Criminal traffic charges like DUI or reckless driving get different treatment and may require a court appearance.
Glendale City Court Quick Facts
Glendale City Court Location
The Glendale City Court sits at 5711 W Glendale Avenue in Glendale, AZ 85301. Walk-in hours are 8 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon, Monday through Friday. You can call the court at 623-930-2400.
This court handles traffic cases from Glendale police. If your ticket says Glendale Municipal Court on it, this is where you need to go. State Route 101 runs through Glendale, but tickets from state troopers on the highway go to Justice Court in Maricopa County instead. City limits matter when it comes to which court gets your case.
Parking is available near the courthouse. Bring photo ID if you plan to conduct business in person. Security screening is required at the entrance. Do not bring weapons or prohibited items. Court staff can answer basic questions about your case status and payment options. For legal advice, you need to talk to an attorney.
The Glendale City Court website has forms, payment options, and general information. You can also find details about defensive driving eligibility and time payment plans on the site.
Court Fees and Payments
Starting October 1, 2025, all credit card payments to Glendale City Court include a 5% processing fee. This applies to online payments and in-person card payments. Cash and check payments do not have this fee. The court still accepts money orders as well.
If you need to request research or copies of court records, the fee is $17. This covers the staff time to locate files and pull documents. Additional copy fees may apply depending on how many pages you need. Arizona law sets some of these fees. Courts cannot waive them without a judge's order.
Payment plans are available if you cannot pay the full fine amount at once. You need to fill out a financial review form. The court looks at your income and expenses to set up a monthly payment schedule. Missing payments can trigger a default and add extra fees to your balance.
The court does not accept PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, or cryptocurrency. Stick to traditional payment methods. If you mail a check that bounces, expect a returned check fee on top of your original fine.
Traffic Violations in Glendale
Most traffic tickets in Glendale are civil violations. These include speeding, running stop signs, illegal turns, and equipment violations. Civil cases do not create a criminal record. You can usually pay the fine without going to court. Some violations make you eligible for defensive driving school, which keeps points off your license.
Criminal traffic offenses are more serious. DUI charges, driving on a suspended license, and reckless driving fall into this category. These cases require a court appearance. You cannot just pay a fine and walk away. A criminal traffic conviction goes on your permanent record. It can affect your license, insurance rates, and employment.
Defensive driving school must be completed at least seven days before your court date. You can take the class online or in person. Once you finish, the school sends proof to the court. The court dismisses the ticket if you completed everything correctly. You still pay a fee to the school and to the court, but no points go on your license. This option is only available once every two years for most violations.
Ignoring a traffic ticket leads to problems. The court enters a default judgment. Your fine goes up. The Motor Vehicle Division may suspend your registration through the TTEAP program. You cannot renew your plates until you clear the debt. Some cases result in a warrant if you fail to appear on a criminal traffic charge.
Access Traffic Court Records
You can request traffic court records from Glendale City Court by visiting in person or calling 623-930-2400. The research fee is $17 per request. Staff need your case number or full name and date of birth to locate your file.
Most traffic records are public unless sealed by court order. Anyone can request copies of case documents. Employers and insurance companies often pull driving records to check for violations. The court maintains files for a set retention period after the case closes. Once that time passes, old records get destroyed.
If you need a copy of your Arizona driving record, contact the Motor Vehicle Division instead of the court. MVD maintains a separate database of all traffic convictions statewide. You can order a three-year uncertified record for $3 or a five-year certified record for $5. That record shows all violations from any court in Arizona, not just Glendale. The MVD website at azdot.gov has the request form.
Court records and MVD records serve different purposes. Court records show details about a specific case, including charges, fines, and court dates. MVD records show your overall driving history, including points and suspensions. Insurance companies usually want the MVD version. Employers may ask for both.
Glendale vs Maricopa County Courts
Glendale sits in Maricopa County. Traffic cases go to different courts depending on who wrote the ticket and where the violation happened. Glendale police tickets go to Glendale City Court. Arizona DPS tickets on highways go to Maricopa County Justice Court. Sheriff's office tickets also go to Justice Court.
Your citation tells you which court to contact. Look for the court name printed on the ticket. If it says Glendale Municipal Court, you are in the right place. If it says Justice Court, you need to contact the Maricopa County Justice Courts instead. Maricopa County has 26 Justice Court precincts. The one listed on your ticket is the one you must deal with.
Do not assume the court based on where you live. The location of the violation and the agency that wrote the ticket determine jurisdiction. A Glendale resident can get a ticket in Scottsdale, and that case goes to Scottsdale Municipal Court. A Phoenix resident can get a ticket in Glendale from a Glendale officer, and that case stays in Glendale.
Statewide Traffic Court Tools
Arizona runs several statewide systems for traffic court records. The AZ Courts Public Access system lets you search cases from over 150 courts across the state. Not all Municipal Courts participate, but many Justice Courts and Superior Courts do. You can search by name or case number.
The Traffic Ticket Enforcement Assistance Program, called TTEAP, is a collection tool used by Arizona courts. If you fail to pay a traffic fine, the court can ask MVD to place a hold on your vehicle registration. You cannot renew your plates until the debt is paid. This affects both the registered owner and any co-owners of the vehicle. TTEAP holds happen after two failed collection attempts. More information is at azcourts.gov.
Defensive driving school eligibility is governed by ARS 28-3392. The statute lists which violations qualify and who can attend. Generally, you can use defensive driving once every 24 months. Commercial drivers may have different rules. The Arizona Supreme Court runs a portal at azcourts.gov/drive to check your eligibility and find approved schools.
Some traffic convictions can be sealed under ARS 13-911. This law took effect December 31, 2022. It allows people to petition the court to seal certain criminal records, including some traffic offenses. Sealing does not erase the record, but it hides it from most background checks. Not all violations qualify. Serious offenses like DUI cannot be sealed. Talk to a lawyer if you want to explore this option.
Legal Assistance for Traffic Cases
Most civil traffic violations do not require a lawyer. You can pay the fine or attend defensive driving on your own. Criminal traffic charges are different. A DUI or reckless driving case can result in jail time, license suspension, and a permanent criminal record. Consider hiring an attorney for these cases.
If you cannot afford a lawyer and you are facing criminal charges, the court may appoint a public defender. You need to fill out a financial affidavit to prove you qualify. Public defenders only handle criminal cases, not civil traffic tickets. For civil matters, you are on your own unless you hire a private attorney.
The State Bar of Arizona runs a lawyer referral service. You can call them to get names of attorneys who handle traffic cases. Some lawyers offer free consultations. Others charge a flat fee for traffic defense. Fees vary depending on the complexity of the case and the attorney's experience.
Other Valley Municipal Courts
If your traffic ticket is from a different city in the Phoenix metro area, check these Municipal Court pages:
Each city operates its own court with different fees and procedures.