Search Yuma County Traffic Court Records
Traffic court records in Yuma County are kept at three Justice Court precincts and the Yuma Municipal Court. Cases from state or county officers go to Justice Courts. City police in Yuma write tickets to Yuma Municipal Court. You can search for cases using a case number or your name. The Justice Center is at 168 S. 2nd Ave in Yuma. All three precinct locations are listed on the county website. Hours run from 8 AM to 5 PM on weekdays. The county handles traffic violations along Interstate 8 and Highway 95. Most cases are civil traffic matters. Some serious charges become criminal cases.
Yuma County Traffic Court Quick Facts
Yuma County Justice Courts
The Justice Courts in Yuma County have three precincts. Each handles traffic cases for a specific area. Presiding Judge Gregory S. Stewart oversees all three locations. The main office sits at the Yuma County Justice Center on 168 S. 2nd Avenue in Yuma. Phone service is at (928) 817-4100.
The three precincts are Yuma, South County, and Wellton. Yuma Precinct is the largest and busiest. It covers the city of Yuma and nearby unincorporated areas. South County Precinct handles cases from the southern part of the county near the Mexico border. Wellton Precinct covers the eastern portion including the town of Wellton and areas along Interstate 8. Most highway traffic stops on I-8 through Yuma County are filed at one of these three Justice Courts.
Justice Courts handle civil traffic violations like speeding, failure to yield, and no insurance. They also take some criminal traffic cases such as DUI and reckless driving. If a state trooper or county deputy wrote your ticket, it goes to Justice Court. City police tickets go to the city Municipal Court. Your citation shows which court has your case. You must contact that specific court to pay or request a hearing. Other courts cannot access your file or take payment.
Find Traffic Records Online
Yuma County Justice Courts do not have their own online case search portal at this time. You can search statewide cases through the Arizona Courts Public Access system at apps.azcourts.gov. That system covers 153 out of 180 courts in Arizona. It may show Yuma County Justice Court cases. Enter your name or case number to search.
The Public Access system is free. You do not need to make an account. Results show the case number, filing date, charges, and sometimes the current balance. The website warns that it is not the official court record. Call the court for certified documents.
For official records, contact the Justice Courts office directly at (928) 817-4100. Staff can look up your case by name or case number. They will tell you your balance, next court date, and what options you have. The court can mail copies for a fee. Most Arizona courts charge 50 cents per page for copies and $33 for certification.
Visit the Courthouse
The Yuma County Justice Center is at 168 S. 2nd Ave., Suite A, Yuma, AZ 85364. Walk in Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM. The office is closed on weekends and court holidays. You can pay fines, file paperwork, ask for extensions, or get copies of documents at the front counter.
Bring your case number if you have it. That speeds up the search. Staff can also look up cases by name and date of birth. If you need to make a payment, the court accepts cash, checks, and credit cards. Some courts charge a fee for credit card payments. Ask the clerk what payment methods are free.
To get certified copies of court records, ask at the counter. The clerk will need the case number and a list of which documents you want. Fees apply. You may need to fill out a records request form. The court will tell you how long it takes to get the copies. Most courts process requests within a few business days if the case is recent.
If you have a court date coming up, arrive early. Security screening at the front door takes time. Phones and cameras may not be allowed in the courtroom. Dress code is business casual. The judge may refuse to hear you if you wear a hat, tank top, or shorts. Turn off your phone before entering the courtroom. Talking or interrupting will get you removed.
Types of Traffic Cases
Yuma County Justice Courts handle both civil and criminal traffic cases. Civil traffic includes speeding, stop sign violations, no proof of insurance, and equipment violations. These are not crimes. You pay a fine and may get points on your license. You do not go to jail.
Criminal traffic includes DUI, reckless driving, driving on a suspended license, and hit and run. These are crimes. You face jail time if convicted. You have the right to a lawyer. The court will appoint one if you cannot afford it. Do not plead guilty without talking to an attorney.
For civil traffic, you can usually pay the fine online or by mail. You do not have to go to court unless you want a hearing. If you contest the ticket, you must request a hearing before the due date. The court will set a trial date. You and the officer both show up. A judge or hearing officer listens to both sides and makes a decision. If you lose, you pay the fine plus court costs. If you win, the case is dismissed.
Defensive driving school is an option for some civil traffic tickets. You must complete the class at least seven days before your court date. The school reports completion to the court. If approved, no points go on your license. You still pay the fine and a time payment fee. The Arizona Supreme Court does not grant extensions for traffic citations. Plan ahead and finish the class early.
Court Fees and Fines
Traffic fines in Yuma County vary by violation. Speeding tickets range from $200 to over $500 depending on how fast you were going and where. School zones and construction zones have higher fines. No insurance tickets can exceed $1,000 for a first offense. DUI fines start at $1,250 plus surcharges, fees, and jail costs.
The court adds fees on top of the base fine. A time payment fee of $20 applies if you need a payment plan. Default fees are added if you miss the due date or fail to appear. Those can be $30 to $75 depending on the violation. Returned checks cost an extra $25. Certification of documents is $33 per item. Copies are 50 cents per page in most Arizona courts.
If you cannot pay the full amount, ask the court for a payment plan. You may need to fill out a financial form. The court decides if you qualify. Some courts require a down payment before approving a plan. Missing a payment can trigger a warrant or license suspension. Keep up with the schedule or call the court to modify it.
Ignoring a traffic ticket leads to serious problems. The court enters a default judgment. Your license may be suspended through the Traffic Ticket Enforcement Assistance Program or TTEAP. The Motor Vehicle Division puts a hold on your vehicle registration. You cannot renew until you pay the court. The hold affects any vehicle you own or co-own. Interest and penalties keep adding up. It is cheaper to deal with the ticket right away.
Traffic Records in Yuma City
The City of Yuma runs its own Municipal Court separate from the county Justice Courts. Yuma Municipal Court is at 1515 S. 2nd Avenue, Yuma, AZ 85364. The phone number is (928) 373-4800. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM. The window closes from 11:30 AM to 1 PM for lunch.
If Yuma Police Department wrote your ticket, it goes to Yuma Municipal Court. Cases from the Sheriff or Highway Patrol go to Justice Court. Check the top of your citation to see which agency issued it. That tells you which court to contact. Do not go to the wrong court. They cannot help you with a case filed elsewhere.
Yuma Municipal Court has a records request process. You must put your request in writing. A research fee of $17 applies per case under Arizona Revised Statute 22-404. That fee is for searching the files. Copies and certification cost extra. The court keeps criminal traffic records for 5 years after final adjudication. DUI and domestic violence cases are kept for 8 years. Civil traffic records are kept for only 1 year. If your case is older than the retention period, the court no longer has the file.
An abstract is paperwork the court sends to the Motor Vehicle Division to lift a license suspension. If you paid off your case but your license is still suspended, ask the court for an abstract. The court mails it to MVD. It can take a few days for MVD to process it and clear the hold. Call MVD to confirm your license status after the abstract is sent.
More information is at yumaaz.gov/government/municipal-court.
Arizona Traffic Court Resources
Several statewide systems help with traffic cases. The Defensive Driving Portal at azcourts.gov lists approved schools and explains eligibility. The TTEAP Program page explains how registration holds work and how to clear them. The Motor Vehicle Division provides driving record copies for $3 uncertified or $5 certified.
You can get your driving record online at AZMVDNow.gov if eligible. That record shows points, suspensions, and violations from all Arizona courts. It does not include out-of-state tickets. Insurance companies use driving records to set rates. Employers may request them for jobs that require driving. Landlords sometimes check them too.
TTEAP is the Traffic Ticket Enforcement Assistance Program. Courts use it to collect unpaid fines. After two failed collection attempts, MVD places a hold on your vehicle registration. The hold stays until you pay the court in full or set up a payment plan. Co-owners are affected too. If your spouse or parent co-owns the car, they cannot renew the registration either. Clear the debt to remove the hold.
City Traffic Courts
Yuma County has one city with a population over 50,000. That city runs its own Municipal Court for local traffic violations:
Smaller towns in Yuma County do not have Municipal Courts. Tickets from those areas go to Justice Courts. The three Justice Court precincts cover the entire county including unincorporated areas and small towns.
Nearby County Courts
If your traffic violation happened in a neighboring county, check these resources: