Yuma Traffic Court Records

Traffic court records for Yuma are kept at the Municipal Court at 1515 S. 2nd Avenue. The court handles all traffic tickets written by Yuma police officers within city boundaries. You can search cases, pay fines, or get copies of documents by visiting the court or calling (928) 373-4800. The court is open Monday through Friday from 8 AM until 5 PM. The service window closes from 11:30 AM to 1 PM for lunch each day. Plan your visit before or after the midday closure. Traffic tickets from county sheriffs or state troopers go to Yuma County Justice Court instead. Check your citation to see which court is listed. City tickets will say Yuma Municipal Court on the paperwork.

Municipal Court Location

The Yuma Municipal Court is at 1515 S. 2nd Avenue, Yuma, AZ 85364. Call (928) 373-4800 if you have questions about a case. Hours are 8 in the morning until 5 in the afternoon on weekdays. The service window shuts down from 11:30 AM to 1 PM for lunch. Staff cannot help you during that time. Come early or wait until after 1 PM.

Park in the lot near the building. Bring your citation or case number when you visit. If you do not have a case number, staff can search by your full name and date of birth. Searches by name take more time. Court offices are closed on weekends and city holidays.

The city website has court information at yumaaz.gov/government/municipal-court. You can find forms, fee schedules, and general instructions online. Some payments may be accepted through online portals but you need to verify your case type allows it.

Get Court Records

To request a record check, submit your request in writing to the court clerk. The research fee is $17 per case as set by state statute. This fee covers the time it takes staff to locate and pull files. You must pay the fee before the court begins research.

The court maintains records for set periods based on case type. Criminal traffic offenses are kept for five years after final adjudication. DUI and domestic violence cases are held for eight years. Civil traffic violations are retained for only one year after the case closes. If your case is older than the retention period, records may not be available.

Final adjudication means the date the case was fully resolved. That could be when you paid the fine, when a judge issued a final order, or when your sentence was completed. The retention clock starts from that date, not from when you got the ticket.

Copies of documents cost extra on top of the research fee. Ask the clerk for the current copy fee. Certification adds more cost if you need an official stamped document. Most record requests take a few business days to process once the fee is paid.

Note: Old cases beyond the retention period cannot be retrieved.

Driver License Abstracts

An abstract is the document the court sends to the Motor Vehicle Division to lift a license suspension request. When you fail to pay a ticket or miss a court date, the case goes into default. The court asks MVD to suspend your driver license. You cannot renew your registration while the suspension request is active.

To get an abstract, you must clear the case with the court. Pay the full fine or set up a payment plan. The clerk then prepares the abstract and sends it to MVD. It can take several days for MVD to update your record. Once the abstract is filed, you can proceed with license reinstatement or vehicle registration renewal.

The abstract does not remove the conviction from your driving record. It only lifts the suspension or registration hold. Points and violations still appear on your MVD record. Insurance companies and employers can see them when they pull your motor vehicle record.

For MVD driving records, visit AZMVDNow.gov. You can order a three-year record for $3 or a five-year certified record for $5. These show all convictions, points, and suspensions on your license.

Common Questions

The Yuma Municipal Court FAQ page at yumaaz.gov FAQ answers many questions. Here are some key points pulled from that resource.

What do you need to do to have a record checked? Your request must be put into writing. There is a research fee of $17 that must be paid before the court can begin the research. This fee is required by Arizona Revised Statute 22-404B.

What is an abstract? An abstract is the paperwork the court provides to the Motor Vehicle Department that lifts the request to suspend the driver's license. You get this after you resolve your case with the court.

How long does the court keep records? Criminal offenses are kept for 5 years after final adjudication. DUI and domestic violence cases are kept for 8 years after final adjudication. Civil traffic cases are kept for 1 year after final adjudication. Cases older than these periods may not be on file anymore.

Pay Traffic Tickets

You can pay traffic fines in person at the court. Bring cash, a check, or a money order. Credit and debit cards are accepted but there may be a processing fee. Ask the clerk about fees before you pay.

Some cases allow online payment. Check your citation for a web address or payment code. Not all violations can be paid online. Criminal traffic charges usually require a court appearance. Civil traffic tickets are more likely to allow payment without showing up in person.

When you pay a civil traffic fine, you admit guilt. You give up your right to contest the ticket. The conviction goes on your driving record. Points may be added to your license depending on the violation. Think about whether you want to fight the ticket before you pay.

If you cannot afford to pay the full amount, ask about a payment plan. The court may let you pay over time. There is usually a fee to set up the plan. Missing a payment can result in default and license suspension.

Defensive Driving School

Arizona law allows defensive driving for eligible traffic violations. If you complete an approved class, the court does not report points to MVD. You still pay fees and the course cost. Not every ticket qualifies. Ask the court clerk or check your citation.

You must request defensive driving before your court date. The class has to be finished at least seven days before your scheduled appearance. You cannot wait until the last minute. The Arizona Supreme Court does not grant extensions for defensive driving deadlines.

Use only state-approved schools. The list is at azcourts.gov/drive. That website also tells you if you are eligible. You can only use defensive driving once every 24 months. If you took a class recently for another ticket, you may not qualify.

Arizona Revised Statute 28-3392 sets the rules for defensive driving school eligibility. The law lists which violations do not qualify. Serious offenses like DUI, reckless driving, and criminal speeding are excluded. Most simple speeding tickets and minor violations are eligible if you meet the time limits.

Yuma County Justice Courts

Yuma sits in Yuma County. Traffic tickets written outside city limits go to the county Justice Court system. Yuma County has three Justice Court precincts: Yuma, South County, and Wellton. The Yuma County Justice Center is at 168 S. 2nd Ave., Suite A, Yuma, AZ 85364. Call (928) 817-4100 for county cases.

Do not confuse the county Justice Court with the city Municipal Court. They are separate courts with different addresses and phone numbers. Your citation will tell you which court to contact. County tickets list the Justice Court. City tickets say Municipal Court.

For more information on county traffic cases, visit the Yuma County page. The county courts have their own fees, procedures, and online systems.

Registration Holds

Arizona uses the Traffic Ticket Enforcement Assistance Program to collect unpaid fines. If you do not pay a ticket or miss your court date, the case goes into default. The court reports the debt to the Motor Vehicle Division. MVD places a hold on your vehicle registration renewal.

TTEAP holds affect the registered owner. If two people own the car, both are blocked from renewing any vehicles in their names. The hold kicks in after two failed collection attempts. You cannot renew your tags until you clear the debt with the court.

To remove a TTEAP hold, pay the fine in full or set up a payment plan. The court then sends a release to MVD. It can take a few days for MVD to process the release. Check the state TTEAP information at azcourts.gov TTEAP page.

Arizona Traffic Resources

The Arizona Judicial Branch runs a statewide case lookup at apps.azcourts.gov/publicaccess/caselookup.aspx. This database covers many courts but not all cities participate. You can search by name or case number. Results show basic case status and charges.

For driving records, go to AZMVDNow.gov. Order a three-year uncertified record for $3 or a five-year certified record for $5. Employers and insurance companies often ask for these. The record shows points, convictions, and suspensions.

If you had an accident on a state highway, you may need a DPS collision report. The Department of Public Safety investigates crashes on interstates and state routes. Request reports at azdps.gov records portal. DPS charges $9 for the first nine pages of a report.