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Frequently Asked Questions

1. I have a traffic ticket. Is Municipal Court the right Court?
2. Will I see a judge today?
3. Am I in the right line?
4. How do I come in to see a Judge for a ticket and/or criminal offense?
5. How long can I expect to spend at the Court if I want to see the Judge for a walk-in appearance?
6. I have a Payment Plan Agreement from court. Where do I pay the money I owe?
7. How much time do I have to pay my traffic ticket?
8. How do I know how old the ticket is?
9. What options do I have to resolve a citation?
10. What citations can be dismissed without a hearing?
11. What are my payment options?
12. How do I schedule a Court hearing?
13. What are the Court room policies and etiquete?
14. Where are the Customer Service windows?
15. Does the Municipal Court accept credit cards?
16. How long is the wait in line at the customer service windows?
17. When are the lines the shortest?
18. How can I change my Court date?
19. Can someone else take care of my summons or warrant?
20. Can a friend or relative appear in court for me?
21. Do I have to see a judge?
22. If the ticket is payable, can I still plead not guiltiy and see a judge?
23. Can I do community service?

1. I have a traffic ticket. Is Municipal Court the right Court?

• If the officer wrote on the ticket "135 E. Griggs Ave.", YES, Municipal Court is the right court. The Court is located a the corner of Griggs Ave. and Church St.
  
  
• If you told the officer you wanted to send in the payment, that is a penalty assessment citation and must be mailed to:
  Las Cruces Municipal Court
  PO BOX 20000
  Las Cruces, NM 88004

2. Will I see a judge today?

• Possibly, depending on the option you choose.  You have several options. Read this information to find answers to the most frequently asked questions.
  

3. Am I in the right line?

• If you wish to set a court date, pay a ticket or fine, check in to see a Judge, file a complaint, request a records check, or you simply have questions, you must be in the vestibule area in the line to see a clerk at windows 1 thru 3 (East side of 1st floor).
  
  

4. How do I come in to see a Judge for a ticket and/or criminal offense?

• Generally speaking, walk-in court appearances (arraignments) are taken every Monday through Thursday on a first-come, first-serve basis beginning at 8:00 a.m.  People are checked in until approximately 10:00 a.m. or until the Judge determines that their caseload is full.  The line begins forming outside the building at approximately 7:30 a.m. each morning.  There are some rare occasions when the regular schedule may have to be cancelled due to unavailability of Judges.  To be sure that a Judge is available the date you want to appear, please call (505-541-2224) in advance.  Walk-in arraignments are not held on Fridays.
  
  

5. How long can I expect to spend at the Court if I want to see the Judge for a walk-in appearance?

• Generally speaking, a walk-in court appearance will probably take anywhere from 1 ½ to 3 hours.  This time depends greatly on your position on the first-come first-serve list, the amount of other people checked in for court that day and also on the Judge’s docket on that particular day.   Be assured that if your appearance requires a long wait, the Judges are attending to other court matters that also require their attention.
  
  

6. I have a Payment Plan Agreement from court. Where do I pay the money I owe?

• If a judge imposed your fine and you have a Payment Plan Agreement form from court, those payments can be taken to the 1st floor, customer service windows in the vestibule area for payment, you can mail it in with a money order or cashiers check or you can pay it by phone utilizing a credit card.
  
  

7. How much time do I have to pay my traffic ticket?

• Everyone has 30 days from the date the traffic ticket is issued to pay a fine or make a court date in Municipal Court.  (Criminal citations and/or arrests have specific dates set for appearance.)
  
  

8. How do I know how old the ticket is?

• The date of issuance is on the ticket.  On traffic citations, the issuance date is located almost exactly at the lengthwise midway point on the citation.  On Criminal Citations, the issuance date is located on the right side of the citation, about 2/3 of the way down. 

9. What options do I have to resolve a citation?

• Municipal Court offers several options for resolving citations. Not all options are available for all citations.
  1. Have a Citation Dismissed upon receipt of proof
  2. Pay a fine
  3. Plead “Not Guilty” and schedule a Hearing before a Judge
  4. Plead “Guilty” or “No Contest” and speak to a Judge to explain the circumstances.
  5. Some citations require an appearance before a judge.

10. Can citations be dismissed without a hearing?

• In certain cases. See this page for details.

11. What are my payment options?

• Pay by mail
  You may mail your payment along with the citation to:
  Las Cruces Municipal Court
  P.O. Box 20000
  Las Cruces, NM 88001
  
  
• Pay in person
  You may make your payment in person at Municipal Court, at the customer service window.  Please bring your copy of the citation with you.

12. How do I schedule a Court hearing?

• To set a court date you must come to the customer service window counter at the courthouse, check in with a deputy court clerk.   They will determine if your case can be set without an appearance in front of a judge or not.  If so, you will be directed to the appropriate office for a court setting. 

13. What are the Court room policies and etiquete?

• If your case is scheduled before a judge, be inside the courtroom 10 minutes prior to your scheduled time.
  ·    Cellular phones and pagers are not allowed.
  ·    Hats must be removed.
  ·    No gum chewing, food or drink.
  ·    Proper attire should be worn.
  ·    Do not talk in the courtroom.
  ·    No newspapers or reading materials allowed.

14. Where are the Customer Service windows?

• The customer service windows are located on the East side (past the security officers next to the elevators) of the first floor at Municipal Court.
  On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, the lines are usually shorter than on Mondays and Fridays.
  The customer service windows are open from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

• FINES owed to Municipal Court can be mailed to:
  Las Cruces Municipal Court
  PO Box 20000
  Las Cruces, NM 88004

15. Does the Municipal Court accept credit cards?

• YES. The Court does accept major credit cards at the customer service windows.  Only the cardholder is allowed to utilize a credit card for payment of fines/fees in the Municipal Court.  For example:  A son/daughter MAY NOT come in with their mother’s credit card to pay for fines or fees.

16. How long is the wait in line at the customer service windows?

• Typically, 30 to 35 minutes.

17. When are the lines the shortest?

• Monday through Friday after 12:00 p.m. (We are always busiest the 1st and 2nd day after a national holiday.)

18. How can I change my Court date?

• A change in court dates must be requested in person. The Court cannot change court dates over the phone.  One date change for initial appearances on traffic misdemeanors may be requested at the customer service windows 1 thru 3.  The clerks are only authorized to give up to 2 weeks.  All other date changes must be requested at the Docketing Clerk’s office.

19. Can someone else take care of my summons or warrant?

• NO. Only the person charged with an offense can plead guilty, or pay a fine unless an attorney is obtained and that attorney files the proper paperwork with the clerk’s office. 

20. Can a friend or relative appear in court for me?

• NO. The Judge’s will not allow a friend or relative to appear on your behalf unless there are extenuating circumstances such as hospitalization.  Documentation is required when this occurs.

21. Do I have to see a judge?

• SOME tickets require a mandatory court appearance. For those you must see a judge.
  Some tickets are payable and do not require an appearance before a judge. These tickets can be satisfied by payment of a fine. (See Making Payment.)
  You can call the Court (541-2224) and ask whether your citation is payable, or if it requires a mandatory court appearance.

22. If the ticket is payable, can I still plead not guiltiy and see a judge?

• YES, most tickets, unless you signed the Penalty Assessment section (See Reading Your Traffic Ticket), can be contested and a trial date can be scheduled.

23. Can I do community service?

• You will have to see the judge.  Go to the customer service windows 1 thru 3 and the clerk will pull and update your file to see the judge.  It is the judge’s discretion whether to allow an intake interview to determine if you are indeed an appropriate candidate for the Court’s Community Service Program.  If you are an appropriate candidate, the Court’s Compliance Office will determine and coordinate the appropriate work site for you.  Community service hours worked will be credited to your case using the current minimum wage rate of $5.15 per hour.