Search Surprise Traffic Court Records
Traffic court records in Surprise are split between two systems. City of Surprise police officers file tickets at Surprise Municipal Court. State troopers and county deputies file tickets at the Arrowhead Justice Court. Both courts are in Surprise but have different procedures and locations. The Municipal Court sits at 16081 N. Civic Center Plaza, Suite 105. That court handles violations within city limits written by Surprise PD. Arrowhead Justice Court is at 14264 W. Tierra Buena Ln and processes tickets from DPS and MCSO. You need to check your citation to see which agency wrote the ticket. The agency name tells you which court has your case.
Surprise Traffic Court Quick Facts
Surprise Municipal Court
The Surprise Municipal Court handles all traffic tickets written by Surprise police within city limits. This includes speeding, red light violations, no insurance, suspended license, and other traffic offenses. The court is at 16081 N. Civic Center Plaza, Suite 105, Surprise, AZ 85374. Call (623) 222-4800 with case questions. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM. The court is closed on weekends and holidays.
You can get information about Surprise traffic tickets at surpriseaz.gov/181/City-Court. That page lists court hours, payment options, and contact details. The city does not run an online case search for the public. You must call or visit in person to check case status. Bring your case number or citation number when you call. Staff can look up your balance and due date over the phone.
Payment options include cash, check, money order, and credit cards at the court counter. You can also mail payments to the Civic Center address. Some online payment systems work with Surprise traffic cases but check with the clerk first. The court charges a $20 fee for time payment plans. If you need to break your fine into smaller amounts, ask about a payment plan at the counter or by phone. You must set up the plan before your due date.
Request Court Records
To get copies of your Surprise traffic court records, you need to submit a public records request. The base fee is $17 for the request plus 50 cents per page for copies. Certified copies cost $34 plus 50 cents per page. These fees are set by Arizona statute and apply at all Municipal Courts in the state.
You can request records by mail, phone, or in person at 16081 N. Civic Center Plaza, Suite 105. Include your case number, full name, and date of birth in the request. Specify whether you need regular or certified copies. Regular copies are fine for most purposes. Certified copies have a court seal and signature. Insurance companies and employers sometimes require certified copies.
Processing time varies based on how busy the clerk's office is. Most requests are filled within a few business days. Complex requests or old cases may take longer. Call ahead if you need records fast. The clerk can tell you how long your specific request will take. There is no rush fee option at Surprise Municipal Court.
Note: Records are kept for periods set by state law and may not be available if the case is too old.
Arrowhead Justice Court
If a DPS trooper or Maricopa County deputy wrote your ticket in Surprise, your case goes to Arrowhead Justice Court. This is one of 26 Justice Court precincts in Maricopa County. The address is 14264 W. Tierra Buena Ln, Surprise, AZ 85374. The phone number is (602) 372-2000. Hours match the Municipal Court schedule. Open weekdays 8 to 5. Closed weekends and holidays.
Arrowhead Justice Court is part of the countywide system. You can search cases online at justicecourts.maricopa.gov/app/courtrecords/casesearch. That search covers all Justice Courts in Maricopa County. Enter your name or case number to see charges, filing date, and balance. The system is free and does not require a login.
Payment and records procedures at Arrowhead Justice Court follow countywide rules. Copies cost 50 cents per page. Certification is $33. Time payment fees are $20. Default fees are $30. These are the same fees used at all 26 precincts. For detailed information about Justice Court procedures, see the Maricopa County page.
Defensive Driving School Option
Some traffic tickets in Surprise qualify for defensive driving school. If you complete an approved class, the court dismisses the citation and no points go on your license. You must finish the class at least seven days before your court date. The Arizona Supreme Court does not grant extensions, so plan ahead.
Check eligibility at azcourts.gov/drive. That site lists approved schools and explains the rules. Not all tickets qualify. You cannot use defensive driving for commercial vehicle violations, DUI, or reckless driving. There are also limits on how often you can take the class. The website has a tool to check if your violation is eligible.
Defensive driving costs vary by school. Most charge between $100 and $250. This is separate from court fees. You pay the school directly and they send a completion certificate to the court. The court then dismisses your case if you met all requirements. This keeps points off your Motor Vehicle Division record. Insurance companies will not see the violation either.
License Holds and TTEAP
If you do not pay a Surprise traffic ticket on time, the court can place a hold on your vehicle registration. This is done through the Traffic Ticket Enforcement Assistance Program. TTEAP is a state system that blocks registration renewals until you clear your court debt.
After two failed collection attempts, the Motor Vehicle Division adds a TTEAP hold. The hold affects both the defendant and any co-owner of the vehicle. You cannot renew your registration while the hold is active. Pay the full amount or set up a payment plan to remove the hold. Once paid, the court notifies MVD. It can take a few days for the system to update.
More information about TTEAP is at azcourts.gov/courtservices/Consolidated-Collections-Unit/Traffic-Ticket-Enforcement-Assistance-Program-TTEAP. That page explains how holds work and how to resolve them. You can also use the TTEAP chatbot on the Arizona Courts website to check if you have a hold.
Nearby City Courts
Other cities in the northwest valley with their own Municipal Courts include: