Appellant/Defendant Information & Procedures

DO NOT IGNORE RECEIVING TRAFFIC/ORDINANCE TICKET(S)

Please Read This Section Diligently

TO PLEAD NOT GUILTY, YOU MUST APPEAR IN COURT

1. You must appear on the court date at the time provided on the citation. If you don’t have your copy of the ticket and don’t know the ticket number, search Case.net by litigant name (YOUR NAME). 

2. Upon pleading not guilty, your case will be set for trial on a future court date.

3.You also have the option to plead and pay by registering for 'Manage My Case'. Go to Case.net then, click the 'Manage My Case icon at https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/ to create your account.The Missouri court tax offset program for collection of delinquent court costs and fines has been established and is in effect.  

TO PLEAD GUILTY AND PAY YOUR FINE  

Go to 'PLEAD AND PAY' Missouri, using the link above, prior to your court date to pay online.

If not you must appear in Court to plea.

Or, you may hire an attorney to represent you in court.

Please Note: Payment is expected at the time of your hearing; request for payment arrangements must be made to the Judge at the time of your plea/hearing/sentencing.

1.You may also use the 'Manage My Case' feature on Missouri Case.net. to follow your case, plead guilty and pay your fine. The Uniform Fine Schedule is available by scrolling to the very bottom of this page. Fines payable outside of court are listed there. Add an additional Court Cost of $33.50 per case.

A 'Guilty Plea' may effect your driving record. Contact the Missouri Department of Driver License here: https://dor.mo.gov/driver-license/ to obtain your driving record information.

• Search for your case at: https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/
• Click on the 'Plead and Pay' Missouri icon
• Drop down to St. Louis County, 21st Judicial Circuit
• Then, enter your ticket/citation/case number. 
• Traffic citation/ticket numbers are in the upper right-hand corner of the ticket.
• You must pay the entire amount due on your citation, plus an online processing fee.
• By using 'Plead and Pay'  Missouri you are acknowledging your payment is considered a guilty plea and waiver of a court hearing to the charge on the citation.

2. Mail the signed Plea of Guilty, Appearance and Waiver that appears with the citation and return it along with a cashier's check or money order (in U.S. dollars) for the full amount due payable to the municipal division court listed on the citation.

• Be sure to write the citation number(s) and your daytime phone number on the front of the cashier's check or money order. Not all courts accept personal checks. Be sure to confirm with the court before submitting a personal check.
•  Payments are written out to the Municipal Division Court listed on the citation. (e.g. Pagedale, Flordell Hills, Greendale)

Bench Trials:

Continuance of a trial may not be given through the Court Office Clerks. You must appear as ordered by the Court. Contact the Court Administrator if you have any questions.

The Cities have attornies that are experienced with all the ordinances, rules and laws governing trials and you will be held to the same level of standards. You may be at a disadvantage if you try your case without legal representation. Contact the Court Administrator to subpoena your witnesses. It is your responsibility to  bring your documents and any other evidence you may want to present to the Court.

The trial will be a trial before the Court. You have a right to a trial by jury, but jury trials are not held in municipal courts. You will need to 'Certify' your case to St. Louis County Circuit Court for a jury trial. You must request this trial no later than ten days before the date the trial is scheduled in municipal court. Contact the court staff to provide you with information on how to request this.

At the end of the trial, if you are found guilty, you have the right to appeal this finding by filing a Trial De Novo request within ten days after the end of the trial. If you pay any portion of the sentence imposed, you forfeit your chance for an appeal in the St. Louis County Circuit Court. This process and information will be provided to you by court staff. You must also pay St. Louis County Circuit Court a $30.00 filing fee.

COURTROOM APPEARANCE PROCEDURES:

• Doors open a half an hour prior to the beginning of Court
• Bring some form of ID and your citation/citation number with you
• Sign in at the main entrance outside of the courtroom
• Take a seat in the courtroom, not along the perimeter
• Silence all electronic devices

DURING COURT:

The Judge will make opening remarks, stating how Court will proceed and what your rights are in Court. When your name is called, you will approach the bench and be told what you are charged with. You have three options:

• Plead Guilty
• Plead Guilty With an Explanation
• Plead Not Guilty

Upon pleading guilty, a conviction will most likely be entered on your case. You may face the following fines:

• Minor traffic violations: up to $225 total fine and costs.
• Property nuisance and zoning violations
  • up to $200 total fine and costs for the first violation within 12 months;
  • $275 for the second violation within 12 months;
  • $350 for the third violation within 12 months and $450 for the fourth and any subsequent violation within 12 months. 
  • The Judge may assess a fine not to exceed $1000.00 per violation and/or a sentence in jail not to exceed 90 days per violation. 

Payment is expected at the time of your hearing; request for payment arrangements must be made to the Judge at the time of your hearing/sentencing.

Pleading guilty may also result in points on your drivers license, you can ask to attend traffic school to avoid points on your state operators license. Contact the MO Department of Revenue Drivers License Bureau at 573-526-3669 for more information or click here:  https://dor.mo.gov/driver-license/

Upon pleading guilty with an explanation, you have the right to tell the Court anything you feel is relevant to your case. If this is a moving violation, you may ask to attend traffic school to avoid points on your state operators license. Otherwise, see guilty plea above.

MUNICIPAL COURT DRESS CODE & MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION:

• Shirts and shoes are mandatory for entry of persons of all ages;
• No hats or other head wear with the exception of religious head wear;
• No halter, tube, nor strapless tops and dresses, undergarments worn as clothing; 
• No tank tops or muscle shirts;
• No see-through clothing;
• No clothing that exposes your midriff, underwear, or undergarments;
• No short-shorts or micro mini-skirts, dresses;
• No clothing that depicts or promotes violence, illegal or inappropriate activity, sex acts, illegal drug use, or profanity;
• No food or drinks are allowed;
• No swimming pool attire;
• No weapons;
• No drugs, nor drug paraphernalia, no smelling like marijuana, no being under the influence;
• No alcohol intoxication

SCHEDULE:

Pagedale Municipal Division Court convenes every 1st Thursday at 6:00pm, doors open at 5:30pm; and every 2nd Thursday at 10:30am, doors open at 10:00am. 

Flordell Hills Municipal Division Court convenes every 3rd Thursday at 5:30pm, doors open at 5:00pm

Greendale Municipal Division Court convenes every 4th Wednesday at 2:00pm, doors open at 1:30pm

Velda City Municipal Division Court convenes every 3rd Thursday at 5:00pm, doors open at 4:30pm

Pagedale Consolidated Municipal Division Court bureau window is open for payments and court business daily from 9:00am - 4:00pm. Except for 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month, the window closes at 3:00 PM prior to courtroom hearings.