Traffic Tickets

Depending on the offense, traffic tickets may either be a traffic infraction or a traffic misdemeanor. Examples of common traffic infractions are speeding, red light, stop sign and following too closely. Examples of common traffic misdemeanors are careless driving, no insurance and reckless driving. If you are unclear what type of traffic ticket you have been cited with, contact the Municipal Court Clerk's office. A $35 Traffic Calming Surcharge (view section in Municipal Code ») is added to all traffic tickets of one point or more and a $25 court cost will be added to the amount due if you plead guilty or no contest to any charge after arraignment, or if you are found guilty at the end of a trial.

Traffic Infraction Procedures

Traffic infractions are civil, rather than criminal, in nature. Traffic infractions are not eligible for jury trials. The maximum penalty for traffic infractions filed in the Fort Collins Municipal Court is a fine of $1000.00.

If you are required to come to Court or you do not accept the "early payment discount", you must appear in Court for arraignment. Your arraignment date is listed on the front of your ticket. You will have the opportunity that day to meet with a prosecutor and discuss possible plea bargains available to you. Please be aware that there is no pre-trial conference option on zero point tickets.

If you are charged with a traffic infraction and you fail to appear or fail to pay the fine by the Court date, a default judgment will be entered against you. That means you will be found guilty by default, and the fine, $25 court cost, and any other applicable costs will be assessed. If the judgment is not set aside or the amount due is not paid within 7 days, an additional $30 "Default Judgment Fee" will be added to the total amount due. The default judgment will be mailed to the State Motor Vehicle Division (MVD). The points will be assessed against your driver's license. MVD will then send notice to you of possible cancellation and denial of your license if proof of payment or other resolution is not received. If you have an out-of-state driver's license, the issuing state may suspend your privilege to drive until the total amount due is paid. No personal checks will be accepted at that point.

Traffic Misdemeanor Procedures

For information on traffic misdemeanor procedures, refer to the misdemeanor section.

For more information, call the Fort Collins Municipal Court Clerk's Office

Fort Collins Municipal Court does not accept on-line driving school courses.

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