Court & Detention Services - Court Programs

Trial Court Date and Time

To set a Court Date, persons must be within 21 calendar days from the date of receipt of the citation.

Trial dates can be requested

• in person at 2014 Main St. or at Lew Sterrett (111 W. Commerce)
• or by mail (post mark on mail request, must be within first 21 days of issuance of citation).

You cannot request by telephone, fax or Internet.

Local Rules for the City of Dallas Municipal Court

Payment Plan Arrangements or Work Release/Community Service

For information on payment plan arrangements or work release/community service, contact the Department of Court and Detention Services, Municipal Building, at 2014 Main Street, 1st Floor, (214) 670-0109, or the Lew Sterrett Justice Center, 111 W. Commerce,
(214) 670-4639.

To request payment plan arrangements to satisfy payment of a ticket (Class C misdemeanor offense), you must be at least 18 years of age, appear in person with photo identification. We require 50% down payment, and the other 50% is due within thirty (30) days. Additional fines and fees may apply if the citation has not been paid within thirty (30) days.  You may do so at the Customer Service Windows at Court and Detention Services, Municipal Building, 2014 Main Street or 1st floor or the Lew Sterrett Justice Center, 111 W. Commerce.

To request work release/community service to satisfy payment of a ticket (Class C Misdemeanor Offense), you must be at least 18 years of age and appear in person with photo identification  at the Court and Detention Services, Municipal Building, 2014 Main Street, 1st  Floor  or the Lew Sterrett Justice Center, 111 W. Commerce.

Appropriate attire for courtrooms:

Summer Courtroom Attire
Due to the excessive heat during the summer months, defendants and visitors are permitted to wear shorts, tank tops, flip flops, T-Shirts, and other summer wear in the area of the Courthouse.

Magistrate Court

Magistrate Court will permit a person to finally and conveniently dispose of a citation without a trial  or  due to proof of  compliance by pleading nolo contender or guilty (i.e. no insurance, no driver's license, inspection, registration,  equipment violations).    A person wishing to utilize Magistrate Court, must appear in person with photo identification at the Court and Detention Services Customer Service Windows, Municipal Building, 2014 Main Street.

Magistrate Court (#10) (Adobe PDF) (En español)

New - Proof or Plea is effective November 17, 2009

The Proof or Plea Court will be open and accessible to the public Monday – Thursday between the hours of 8:30 am until 11:30 pm and 1:30 pm until 4:00 and Friday between the hours of 8:30 am until 11:30. This court is available to any person who wishes to take care of their citation(s) within the first 21 days after receiving the citation and wants to:

(1) plead only guilty or no contest to the case and pay the fine through a straight plea, request deferred disposition, driver’s safety course, a payment plan, or community service or work release; or

(2) show compliance or "proof" on the case by presenting a valid Texas driver's license, proof of insurance or financial responsibility, renewed or valid inspection sticker, or renewed or valid registration.

Time/Location

Defendants wishing to access the Proof or Plea Court must proceed to windows 5-17 during business hours.

Juvenile Court

For court processing purposes, juveniles are 10 through 16 years of age, except for tobacco violations which are defined as those persons under the age of 18.  Alcohol violations  are defined as those persons under the age of 21.

Juveniles cannot pay a citation.  Court dates will be mailed to juveniles 10 through 16 years of age and must appear in court with a parent or guardian.    Alcohol and tobacco violators between 17 and 20 years of age cannot pay a citation and must request a court date within 21 days of issuance of citation and  appear in court (parent or guardian not required).