Maricopa County Traffic Court Records
Traffic court records in Maricopa County cover cases filed at 26 Justice Court precincts and multiple Municipal Courts across the Phoenix metro area. Citations from state troopers and county deputies go to Justice Courts. City police tickets go to Municipal Courts in each city. You can search cases online through county systems or visit courthouses in person. All Justice Courts in Maricopa County are open from 8 AM to 5 PM on weekdays. Holidays are not work days. The county operates a centralized case search system that covers all precinct locations. You need a case number or full name to search.
Maricopa County Traffic Court Quick Facts
Justice Court System
Maricopa County has 26 Justice Court precincts spread across the metro area. Each precinct handles traffic cases for its geographic zone. State Route 347, Interstate 10, and other highways fall under Justice Court jurisdiction when county or state law enforcement writes the ticket.
All courts share the same hours. Doors open at 8 in the morning. They close at 5 in the afternoon. You cannot walk in on weekends. Court holidays match state closures. Each location has its own address and phone number. Staff at one precinct cannot access files from another. You must contact the specific court listed on your citation. The ticket shows which precinct filed your case. That court is where you pay fines, request hearings, or get copies of documents.
The Agua Fria precinct serves Avondale and the west valley. Its office is at 10420 W. Van Buren St. in Avondale. Call (602) 372-8001 for case questions. Arcadia Biltmore precinct is downtown Phoenix at 620 W Jackson Street. That phone number is (602) 372-6300. Arrowhead precinct covers Surprise. The address is 14264 W. Tierra Buena Ln. Call (602) 372-2000. Desert Ridge handles northeast Phoenix from 18380 N. 40th Street. Their line is (602) 372-7100.
East Mesa and Highland precincts both sit at 222 E. Javelina Ave in Mesa but have different suite numbers and phone lines. East Mesa is Suite C at (602) 506-8117. Highland is Suite A at (602) 372-8300. Kyrene and San Tan precincts share space at 201 E. Chicago Street in Chandler. Both use (602) 372-3400. The full list of all 26 locations appears on the Justice Courts locations page.
Search Cases Online
Maricopa County Justice Courts run a case search portal at justicecourts.maricopa.gov/app/courtrecords/casesearch. The system searches all 26 precincts at once. Enter your first and last name or type in a case number. Results show the precinct, charges, filing date, and current balance.
The website states that information is not the official court record. You need to contact the court for official documents. The search is free. No login is required. It works on phones and computers. Some new cases take a few days to appear in the system after filing.
For Superior Court traffic cases, use the Superior Court docket search. That system handles criminal traffic charges and appeals from Justice Courts. Most standard traffic tickets do not go to Superior Court. Only serious offenses like DUI, reckless driving, or driving on a suspended license get filed there initially.
Traffic Case Procedures
When you get a traffic ticket in Maricopa County, the citation tells you which court handles your case. It also lists the due date. You must respond before that date. Options include paying the fine, requesting a hearing, or attending defensive driving school if eligible.
The Justice Courts traffic page explains that city police tickets go to municipal courts. State and county tickets come to Justice Court. Do not ignore your citation. Failing to respond triggers a default judgment. The court adds extra fees. Your license may be suspended through TTEAP. The Motor Vehicle Division will not renew your registration until you clear the debt.
Payment options include cash, personal checks, money orders, and major credit cards. The courts take Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover. They also accept Apple Pay and Google Pay. They do not take cryptocurrency, PayPal, Venmo, or Zelle. A $20 time payment application fee applies if you need a payment plan. Returned checks cost $25 extra. Default fees are $30 per case.
Get Copies of Court Records
The Maricopa County Justice Courts accept records requests online and in person. Visit justicecourts.maricopa.gov/i-want-to/request-records to submit a formal request. You need to provide the case number and specify which documents you want.
Fees are set by Arizona statute and Supreme Court rules. Case file copies cost 50 cents per page. Certification adds $33 per document. Audio or video recordings of hearings cost $33 each. Commercial requesters who want bulk records pay a $33 search fee for up to 10 files per day. A bulk data download option costs $33 per month. These fees appear on the records request page and apply countywide.
Court clerks do not perform background checks. If you ask for records without a case number, the request may be declined. The courts destroy old files after the retention period expires. That period ranges from one year to eleven years depending on case type. Most traffic cases are kept for shorter periods than felonies or civil matters.
Note: Records older than the retention period are not available.
Superior Court Traffic Records
The Maricopa County Superior Court handles serious criminal traffic offenses. These include DUI charges, felony hit and run, driving on a suspended license, and reckless driving. The court also hears appeals from Justice Court and Municipal Court decisions.
You can search Superior Court cases at superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/docket/index.asp. The search works by name, case number, or citation number. Results show charges, court dates, and case status. For record requests from Superior Court, contact the Clerk of the Superior Court. That office has different fees and procedures than Justice Courts.
Municipal Courts in Maricopa County
Many cities in Maricopa County run their own Municipal Courts for tickets written by city police. These courts are separate from Justice Courts. If you got a ticket within city limits from a city officer, your case goes to that city's Municipal Court.
Cities with Municipal Courts and populations over 50,000 include:
Each city court has its own website, phone number, and payment system. Contact the court directly for case information and records.
Nearby County Courts
If your traffic violation occurred in a neighboring county, check these resources: