Criminal / Traffic

Criminal
A criminal case is a case where the defendant is charged with violating the law. The Toledo Municipal Court has jurisdiction over misdemeanor cases. A misdemeanor charge can carry no more than a maximum fine of $1,000 and six months imprisonment. The maximum penalty attached to a particular charge depends upon the type or degree of misdemeanor. These maximum penalties are set forth in Ohio Revised Code §2929.21

A summons on court-approved forms is the standard means for requiring defendants to appear in criminal misdemeanor violations where it does not appear likely to the citing officer or prosecutor that a further aggravated breach of the peace will occur.

Arraignments are held at 9:00 a.m. in courtroom #4, Monday through Friday for cases where the defendant is out of custody and charged with:

• Vehicular homicide or negligent homicide
• Assault
• Menacing by stalking, aggravated menacing, menacing
• Arson
• Domestic violence
• Violation of a temporary protection order
• Intimidation of a crime victim/witness
• Repeat offenses of driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs

Arraignments are held at 9:00 a.m. in courtroom #4, Monday through Friday for cases where:

• The defendant is in custody, or
• There is a motion filed for a temporary protection order

All other misdemeanor criminal/traffic arraignments are heard by a magistrate in courtroom #4 beginning at 1:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Housing cases that are criminal in nature are heard separately by the housing judge and defendants should carefully check their court notice or summons for the correct day and time for their appearance.

Felony arraignments are heard in courtroom #3 beginning at 9:00 a.m. At the time of felony arraignment, the judge sets bail, may grant a continuance if requested, accepts a waiver of preliminary examination if offered, assigns a date and time for the preliminary examination, or enters a nolle prosequi at the request of the prosecutor.  A nolle prosequi is a formal entry on the record by the prosecutor that the case will not proceed further at this time.

After giving all defendants an explanation of their rights, including the right to have counsel appointed if they are eligible, the judge or magistrate hearing arraignments may receive pleas of guilty, no contest, or not guilty.

Magistrates accepting pleas may recommend a sentence as provided in the court's Order of Reference. The magistrate shall not accept a plea without the defendant signing a waiver. No defendant shall be required to have an arraignment before a magistrate and may request the case be reassigned to the duties judge for the same day.

If a plea of not guilty is entered, the case shall be referred to the Court Services Department for assignment to a judge and a pretrial date.

Traffic

Some traffic offenses require a court appearance. If you are charged with any of the offenses listed below, you will have to come to court:

• Third or more moving violations within 12 months
• Operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs of abuse or permitting another to do so
• Driving while under suspension or revocation
• Eluding or fleeing a police officer
• Drag racing
• Leaving the scene of an accident
• Failure to stop and remain standing upon meeting or overtaking a school bus stopped on the highway for the purpose of receiving or discharging a school child.

Most other traffic offenses are payable and do not require a court appearance. However, you will need to check the Clerk of Court's website to determine if your ticket is payable.

If you are charged with a payable offense, you may pay the amount stated on the ticket and sign the ticket on the back. You must pay your ticket before the court date listed at the bottom of your traffic ticket.  If you do not pay by the date listed, you will have to come to court.

You can pay in person, by mail, or by credit card via the internet.

Paying by Mail
In order to pay by mail, you must:

Send a check or money order made payable to Toledo Municipal Court. Do not send cash. Include the ticket after you sign the ticket on the back. Include proof of insurance if you could not show proof of insurance when you received the ticket.

Mail the ticket to:
Toledo Municipal Court
Attention: Clerk of Court
555 N. Erie Street
Toledo, OH 43604

If you wish to receive a receipt or if the officer kept your license, please indicate this when sending the ticket and include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

Paying by Credit Card Via the Internet
Payments are accepted using a valid credit card through the Clerk of Court's website at www.tmc-clerk.com.