Municipal Court Staff and FAQ
STAFF
| Carol Montgomery | Municipal Court Judge | 817-748-8188 |
| Gary Lee Hach | Municipal Court Judge | 817-748-8188 |
| Kristin White | Interim Municipal Court Supervisor | 817-748-8188 |
| Ester Ledezma | Deputy Court Clerk | 817-748-8188 |
| Camille Ross | Court Clerk I; Website Specialist | 817-748-8268 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
GENERAL INFORMATION
What if I am past the initial 20 business days to appear?
What if I want to enter a plea of "Not Guilty"?
What if I want to enter a plea of "Not Guilty"?
FOR MOVING VIOLATIONS
PAYMENT AND FINES
COURT DATE
AGE 18-24
UNDER 18 or FULL-TIME HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT
16 YEARS OR YOUNGER
WARRANTS
ANSWERS
GENERAL INFORMATION
Contact a Municipal Court Clerk. Telephone: (817) 748-8188.
A telephone call, fax, or e-mail does not constitute an appearance.
Office hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
The Municipal Court is located on the first floor of the Department of Public Safety building.
600 State Street, Suite 1000, Southlake, Texas
Office hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
A time of 20 business days is allowed to make an initial appearance concerning a citation.
An initial appearance is made in one of the following ways:
1. The defendant comes to the Court office in person during business hours OR
2. The defendant submits the proper response through the mail.
What if I am past the initial 20 business days to appear?
No requests for Dismissals, Deferred Disposition or Driver's Safety Course
will be processed at the window after the 20th business day.
No requests for Dismissals, Deferred Disposition or Driver's Safety Course
will be processed at the window after the 20th business day.
After the initial 20 business days are your options are:
1. You may enter pay the fine by mail or in person. To do so, sign the back of your citation and submit full payment. See Important Note Below!
2. You may appear in person to post bond in the full amount of the fine and set a court date.
Important: Paying the fine amount without setting a Court date will result in a conviction, and the violation may be reported to the State.
State's Department of Public Safety Website: List of violations that will add points to a record. Southlake Municipal Court is not responsible for the accuracy of the State D.P.S. website. If you have a question about whether a violation is counted for Driver Points, you can contact the State by phone at: (512) 424-2600 (English) or (512) 424-7181 (Spanish)
Appear in person at the Municipal Court within the 20 business days from date of the citation, and schedule a pre-trial date to discuss your case with the city prosecutor. You have the right to request a trial setting either before a judge or jury.
You are not eligible for Deferred Disposition or Driver's Safety Course, and the offense will go on your driving record if it is a moving violation. You have the option of pleading not guilty and speaking with the prosecutor.
The Municipal Court does not process Red Light Camera Citations. Red Light Camera Violations are not Moving Violations and will not add points to a Texas Driver Record. Visit the City of Southlake website on Red Light Camera Citations.
Red Light Camera Customer Service
- 1-877-245-2422.
- Visit the Photo Notice Website
- See the Southlake's Red Light Camera Informational Webpage
FOR MOVING VIOLATIONS
Please follow this link to see details on your options for keeping a moving violation off of your record.
If eligible, request from the Court to take Driver's Safety Course or request Deferred Disposition. You can make this request through the mail or in person.
Note*** If you are 17 years of age or younger you must appear in person to set a court date. If you are 16 years of age or younger, a parent must appear for you by coming to the Court office to set a court date.
Yes, however, if the violation is one that is reported to the State, such as speeding or an open container violation, just paying the fine will result in a conviction being reported to the State and the addition of driver points added to your Texas Driving Record. To pay a fine by mail, enter a plea on the back of citation (pink) and mail payment (check or money order) to the Municipal Court.
Please do all of the following:
1. Completely fill out the white request form and have it notarized by a notary public.
2. Provide a copy of an auto liability insurance card that lists you as an insured driver.
3. send a check or money order payable to the City of Southlake in the amount of:
$107.00 if cited speeding in a non-school zone; OR
$132.00 if cited for speeding in a school zone.
You are not eligible if you:
1. Have completed a Driver's Safety course in the last twelve months OR
2. Were cited for passing a school bus OR
3. Were cited fleeing or attempting to elude police officer OR
4. Possess a commercial driver's license OR
5. Were cited for contributing to an accident involving damage to vehicle or for failing to give information and render aid OR
6. Were cited for any moving violation in a construction zone where workers were present.
Please do all of the following:
1. Completely fill out the white request form and have it notarized by a notary public.
2. Provide a copy of your auto liability insurance card with your name on it;
3. Send a check or money order payable to the City of Southlake in the full amount of the fine.
You are not eligible if:
1. You have received a violation in the State of Texas in the last 6 months. OR
2. You possess a commercial driver's license. OR
If you are under the age of 25 and are requesting Deferred Disposition:
You must also take a Driver's Safety course within 90 days after your request is processed.
Persons 17 years of age or younger must set a court date).
If Deferred Disposition is requested at the window, and you qualify for the option, it is a probationary period of 90 days. However, under the order by the judge a period of deferred disposition can range from 30 days to 180 days. Furthermore, the Judge can order additional conditions of deferred disposition.
Ninety days from the date your request is processed.
No, but you will need to show your auto liability insurance card and driver's license to the clerk in order to process your request for Deferred Disposition or Driver's Safety Course.
PAYMENT AND FINES
Credit or debit (Visa or Masterard only), personal check, cashier's check, money order, and cash. Checks, Cashier's Checks, and money orders should be made payable to "City of Southlake".
Extensions of time to pay may only be approved by the Judge. You may appear in person at the Municipal Court within the 20 business days to schedule a court date. The Judge may grant you an extension of time to pay. If granted an extension, you may be required to fill out a financial information form.
Online payments can be made using a credit card at this website. Payments cannot be made
by phone.
by phone.
Checks are made payable to "City of Southlake."
Click here to see a schedule of fines. It is always advisable to call to confirm a fine amount before mailing in payment.
COURT DATE
Court dates are set in person at the Court office during regular business hours.
Many dismissals do not require setting a court hearing date and can be handled by mail or at the Court window during the first 20 business days following citation.
Court dates are not printed on Southlake citations. Defendants are given a period of 20 business days to make an initial appearance in person or by phone.
If you are attending a Court Hearing: Dress is Business Casual. No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, hats, or sun glasses are accepted as attire in the courtroom.
Other items not allowed: beverages, guns, knives, or other weapons.
You may represent yourself or be represented by a licensed attorney.
AGE 18-24
If you are under the age of 25, by State statue, you must complete a Driver Safety Course for any moving violation you would like to keep off of your record.
UNDER 18 or FULL-TIME HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT
If you are under the age of 18, or 18 years of age and a full-time high school student, you will need to set a Court hearing date so that you may enter a plea before the Judge.
DISMISSALS
The only exceptions are for compliance dismissals (Expired Registration or Motor Vehicle Inspection, Failure to Display Drivers License, etc.). Dismissals do not require a court hearing if they are processed for dismissal within the 20-business day time frame.
If you are over the age of 16, you may set a court date without a parent present.
If you are under the age of 18, or 18 years of age and a full-time high school student, a parent will need to attend the Court hearing with you.
16 YEARS OR YOUNGER
If you are under the age of 17, a parent or guardian must be present at the time you are requesting the Court hearing, and must also be present on the day of Court. A parent or guardian may schedule a Court hearing without the defendant present if the defendant is under the age of 17.
WARRANTS
If you currently have a warrant for your arrest you may be arrested at your home, place of business, or during your commute. In that event, you would be taken into custody to the jail facility of the police agency that made the arrest. You may avoid being arrested by paying your fine at the Southlake Municipal Court during our regular business hours, or by posting a cash or surety bond and scheduling a court hearing where you might enter a plea before the Judge.
No payments are accepted over the phone. You may mail payment or submit payment in person during regular business hours. Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
No partial payments can be accepted for active warrant clearance. If you cannot post/pay the entire amount of the fine/s, you may come to the Court during business hours and fill out an Extension of Time to Pay form. The clerk will then provide you with a Court hearing date and time. At the hearing, you may speak with the Judge about your case and an extension of time to pay the fines.
You can mail payment; however, your case will remain in active warrant until the payment is received and processed by the Court. Payments for warrants are processed immediately.
If you have not entered a plea (have not appeared in Court) and are just paying a fine and accepting a conviction, you must include a written plea of "guilty" or "no contest."
If you would like to see the Judge to enter a plea and/or make any request, you will need to either come in person to make payment, or you may include with your payment a letter to the Judge requesting a court date.
A note about insurance violations: a conviction for an insurance violation incurs additional surcharges and penalties from the State, and will remain on a driving record, unlike a moving violation that will normally remain on the record for 3 years and then roll off.
Southlake Municipal Court
600 State Street, Suite 1000,
Southlake, Texas 76092
(817) 748-8188
Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.