Phoenix Traffic Court Records
Traffic court records in Phoenix are handled by Phoenix Municipal Court, which is Arizona's largest limited jurisdiction court and among the top 10 busiest municipal courts in the United States. The court processes approximately 160,000 charges annually from traffic violations, parking citations, and misdemeanor offenses within city limits. You can search cases online, pay fines through the court's website, or visit the courthouse at 300 W. Washington St. in downtown Phoenix. The court is open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM. All tickets written by Phoenix Police Department officers for violations within city boundaries go to this court.
Phoenix Municipal Court Quick Facts
Phoenix Municipal Court System
Phoenix Municipal Court sits at 300 W. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ 85003. The main phone line is 602-262-6421. Staff answer questions about cases, payment plans, and court dates. Do not call to ask about warrants or legal advice. Court hours run from 8 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon on weekdays. The court closes on state holidays.
The Phoenix court website has information on case types, payment options, and court locations. You can find forms, hours, and contact details there. All traffic tickets issued by Phoenix police fall under this court's jurisdiction. That includes speeding, red light violations, no insurance, and other moving violations within city limits.
State Route 51, Interstate 10, and Loop 101 run through Phoenix. Tickets on these highways depend on which agency wrote the citation. Arizona Department of Public Safety tickets go to Justice Court. Phoenix police tickets for violations on city streets go to Municipal Court. Check your citation to see which court has your case.
Scam Warning for Phoenix Residents
Scammers send fake texts that look like they come from the City of Phoenix or Phoenix Municipal Court. These messages claim you owe money or missed court. They link to fake websites that steal payment info.
The Phoenix court warns: do not visit the website, do not make payment, and immediately delete the message. Real court notices come by mail. The court does not send text messages asking for immediate payment or threatening arrest. If you are not sure if a notice is real, call 602-262-6421 during business hours to verify.
Phoenix police will not call and demand payment over the phone. Court clerks will not ask for gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. All legitimate payments go through the official court website or in person at the courthouse. Be cautious of any urgent messages about fines or warrants.
Pay Traffic Fines Online
The Phoenix Municipal Court accepts online payments at phoenixcourt.gov. You need your case number or citation number. The system takes major credit cards and debit cards. A convenience fee applies to card payments.
Payment options include full payment, partial payment, or setting up a time payment plan. Time extension requests cost $20 under Arizona Revised Statute 12-116. That fee gets added to your total balance. You can also pay in person at the courthouse with cash, check, or money order. Returned checks incur an $18 fee. Make checks payable to Phoenix Municipal Court.
If you need a payment plan, you must go to the courthouse. Court staff will review your finances and set up monthly installments. There is a $20 time payment fee added to the total. Missing a payment can result in additional penalties and license suspension.
Phoenix Court Fees and Costs
Phoenix Municipal Court charges several administrative fees in addition to fines. These fees are set by Arizona law and city ordinance.
Returned check fee: $18. This applies when a check bounces or a bank payment fails. Time extension fee: $20. You pay this when requesting more time to pay or complete defensive driving. The court does not waive these fees except in rare cases involving financial hardship.
Traffic fines vary by violation type. Speeding tickets cost more as the speed increases. No insurance violations carry high fines. Civil traffic cases have lower fines than criminal traffic cases. Your citation lists the fine amount or states that the amount will be set by the judge.
Note: All fees and fines must be paid before your case closes.
Search Phoenix Court Records
You can search your Phoenix Municipal Court case online through the court's website. The search requires a case number or your name and date of birth. Results show charges, court dates, fines owed, and payment history. The system updates daily but may not show very recent filings.
Phoenix falls within Maricopa County. If your ticket was written by a county sheriff or state trooper, your case goes to Maricopa County Justice Court instead of Phoenix Municipal Court. Justice Courts have a separate case search system at justicecourts.maricopa.gov/app/courtrecords/casesearch. That system covers all 26 Justice Court precincts in the county.
For Superior Court criminal traffic cases like DUI or felony charges, use the Maricopa County Superior Court docket search. Those cases involve more serious offenses and different procedures.
Types of Traffic Cases
Phoenix Municipal Court handles civil and criminal traffic violations. Civil traffic includes most moving violations: speeding, running a red light, failure to yield, and improper lane changes. These are not crimes. You do not get a criminal record. You can pay the fine or request a hearing.
Criminal traffic violations are more serious. They include DUI, reckless driving, driving on a suspended license, and hit and run. These charges can result in jail time, probation, and a criminal record. You have the right to an attorney. The court will appoint a public defender if you cannot afford one.
Parking violations also go through Municipal Court. The process is simpler. Most people pay online or by mail. You can contest a parking ticket by requesting a hearing. The hearing is less formal than a traffic trial.
Defensive Driving School Option
Arizona law allows eligible drivers to attend defensive driving school for certain traffic violations. Completing the course prevents points from being added to your driving record. The court dismisses the ticket after you finish.
You must complete defensive driving at least seven days before your court date. The Arizona Supreme Court does not grant extensions for defensive driving deadlines. If you miss the deadline, you cannot use this option. You will have to pay the fine or go to court.
Not all violations qualify. DUI, reckless driving, and excessive speeding are not eligible. The Arizona defensive driving portal at azcourts.gov/drive explains eligibility rules and lists approved schools. There is a fee to take the class. You pay the school directly. The court still charges a small administrative fee.
You can only use defensive driving once every 24 months. If you completed a class in the last two years, you are not eligible. Commercial driver license holders have different rules. Check with the court before enrolling in a class.
Registration Holds and TTEAP
Arizona courts use the Traffic Ticket Enforcement Assistance Program to collect unpaid fines. TTEAP places a hold on your vehicle registration if you ignore a ticket. You cannot renew your registration until you pay or set up a payment plan. The hold affects the vehicle owner and any co-owner.
The Motor Vehicle Division enforces the hold. After two failed collection attempts, the court reports your debt to MVD. When you try to renew your vehicle registration, the system blocks the renewal. You must contact Phoenix Municipal Court, pay your balance or set up a payment arrangement, and get the hold released. This process can take several days.
The TTEAP program page has more information on how holds work. You can avoid this by responding to your ticket on time. Even if you cannot pay the full amount, contact the court to set up a payment plan.
Get Copies of Traffic Records
Phoenix Municipal Court maintains records for all cases filed in the court. You can request copies of case files, court documents, and hearing recordings. Requests must be in writing. Some records are public. Others are sealed or confidential.
The court charges fees for copies and certification. Copy fees follow Arizona statute, typically 50 cents per page. Certified copies cost more and include a court seal. Audio recordings of hearings have separate fees. Processing time varies based on the request size and record availability.
Old records may be destroyed after the retention period expires. Traffic cases are usually kept for one to five years after the case closes. If you need a record for insurance, employment, or license reinstatement, request it while the case is still recent. The court cannot recreate records that have been destroyed.
Motor Vehicle Division Records
Your driving record is separate from court records. The Motor Vehicle Division tracks all traffic convictions, license suspensions, and points. You can get a copy of your driving record at AZMVDNow.gov or at any MVD office.
An uncertified three-year driving record costs $3. A certified five-year record costs $5. Employers and insurance companies often ask for certified copies. The certified version has a seal and signature. You can order online or fill out MVD Form 46-4416 and submit it by mail or in person.
Traffic convictions from Phoenix Municipal Court appear on your MVD record. Points are assigned based on the violation type. Accumulating too many points can lead to license suspension. Defensive driving school prevents points from being added for eligible violations. The MVD is located separately from the court. Contact MVD at azdot.gov/mvd for driving record questions.
Statewide Traffic Court Resources
Arizona operates several statewide systems for traffic cases. The AZ Courts Public Access portal at apps.azcourts.gov/publicaccess/caselookup.aspx searches cases from 153 out of 180 courts in Arizona. This includes Justice Courts and some Municipal Courts. Not all courts participate in the system.
AZ Court Pay at azcourtpay.com handles online payments for many Arizona courts. Some courts use this system for collections after a case goes into default. Check your court documents to see if your payment should go to AZ Court Pay or directly to Phoenix Municipal Court.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety Records Unit maintains collision reports for accidents investigated by state troopers. If you were in an accident on a highway and need a copy of the report, contact DPS at azdps.gov/services/public-services-portal/records-request. Reports cost $9 for the first nine pages and 10 cents per page after that.
Legal Help in Phoenix
Phoenix residents facing criminal traffic charges can get help from legal aid organizations. Community Legal Services offers free legal assistance to low-income residents. They handle certain traffic matters including license suspension and criminal charges. Call their intake line to see if you qualify.
The Maricopa County Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service. You can get a 30-minute consultation with an attorney for a small fee. This helps you understand your options before hiring a lawyer. Criminal traffic cases often benefit from legal representation, especially DUI and reckless driving charges.
The court does not provide legal advice. Clerks can explain procedures but cannot tell you what to do in your case. If you have questions about your rights or potential defenses, talk to a lawyer. Many attorneys offer free initial consultations for traffic cases.
Other Cities in Maricopa County
Phoenix is the largest city in Maricopa County. Other cities also have Municipal Courts for traffic violations within their boundaries. If your ticket was in a different city, check that city's court website.