General Information - Please Read

Court Dates

Appearance on Court Date

If you have not previously appeared in writing or by attorney, paid or rescheduled, you are required to appear in court at the date and time stated on your ticket.

Should you fail to appear in Court on the date and at the time indicated on your citation, you will receive a notice to appear within 30 days thereafter. You have the right to request an alternative date and time to appear if you are unable to appear on the date and at the time included on this second notice. You should make this request in writing to:
Municipal Court of the City of Pasadena
P.O. Box 1575
Pasadena, TX 77501-1575 

You can also make the request in person at 1114 Davis St. You need not wait to receive this second notice to reset your court date after a missed setting.

Compliance Dismissals

Certain cases can be dismissed through the mail or by personal appearance at the Municipal Court transaction windows prior to your first appearance. View a full list of these cases and the requirements for dismissal (PDF).

Proper Attire Required

Shorts, tank tops, halter tops and flip flops are not permitted in Court.

Failure to Appear in Court

Failure to appear or failure to pay fines may result in: 

  • Denial of renewal of your Driver’s License
  • Denial of your renewal of your vehicle registration
  • The filing of an additional charge of failure to appear and the issuance of a warrant for your arrest

Family Violence


If you are convicted of a misdemeanor offense involving violence where you are or were a spouse or intimate partner, parent, or guardian of the victim or are or were involved in another similar relationship with the victim, it may be unlawful for you to possess or purchase a firearm, including a handgun or long gun, or ammunition pursuant to federal law under 18 U.S.C. Section 922(g)(9) or Section 46.04(b) Texas Penal Code. 

If you have any questions whether these laws make it illegal for you to possess or purchase a firearm, you should consult an attorney.

If you are accused of an offense involving family violence, you may not pre-pay your fine and cost either in person, by United States Mail, or electronic means. You must enter your plea before the Judge in open court.

Fines

To Pay Your Fine

The Municipal Court can accept payment of your fine(s) in person, by mail, or by phone credit card payment. Online payment is not available at this time pending software upgrade. Payment made in person may be made between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Monday through Friday excluding holidays. Cash (exact amount preferred), check, money order and all major credit or debit cards are accepted. There is a 4% convenience charge added to all credit or debit card transactions. Should you desire to pay your fine by mail, please utilize the waiver of jury trial form and plea of guilty document (PDF) or on the bottom of your ticket and mail it together with your payment to:
City of Pasadena
P.O. Box 1575
Pasadena, TX 77501-1575

Payment of a fine will result in a report of conviction to the Department of Public Safety for inclusion on your driving record. If you do not want the matter included on your driving record, you should consider either a request for Deferred Disposition or Driving Safety Course.

Notice

If you are found guilty of an offense or offenses charged in this citation and do not have sufficient resources or income to immediately pay all or part of the fines and costs, the Court shall determine whether the fines and costs should be:

  • Paid at some later date or in specified portions at designated intervals
  • Discharged by performing community service
  • Waived in full or in part
  • Satisfied through a combination of the foregoing methods

The Court may refer your case(s) to its collection office for review of your income and expenses. You should come to court prepared to supply the name, address, and phone number of two references who are not members of your household as well as documentation to support your income, expenses and available resources such as bank balances.

Juveniles


If you are under age 17, you cannot pre-pay the fine. State law requires that you appear in court with a parent or legal guardian. A child under 17 and parent required to appear before the Court have the obligation to provide the court in writing with the current address and residence of the child. The obligation does not end when the child reaches the age 17. 

On or before the seventh day after the date the child or parent changes residence, the child or parent shall notify the court of the current address in the manner directed by the court. A violation may result in arrest and is a Class C misdemeanor. The obligation to provide notice terminates on discharge and satisfaction of the judgment or final disposition not requiring a finding of guilt. 

Appeals

If an appellate court accepts an appeal for a trial de novo, the child and parent shall provide the notice to the appellate court.

Violations

Alcohol, Tobacco & Public Intoxication Violations

Persons under the age of 21 charged with tobacco and vaping / e-cigarette violations and persons under the age of 21 charged with alcohol violations may not pay prior to court by mail or in person, but must appear in court.

Insurance Violations

A second or subsequent conviction of an offense under the Texas Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility Act will result in the suspension of your driver’s license and motor vehicle registration unless you file and maintain evidence of financial responsibility with the Department of Public Safety for two years from the date of the conviction. 

The department may waive the requirement to file evidence of financial responsibility if you file satisfactory evidence with the department showing that at the time this citation was issued, the vehicle was covered by a motor vehicle liability insurance policy or that you were otherwise exempt from the requirements to provide evidence of financial responsibility.

Warrant Information

If You Have a Warrant

The Municipal Court will recall an arrest warrant for a defendant’s failure to appear or a capias pro fine for failure to pay fines and costs if a defendant voluntarily appears and makes a good faith effort to resolve either the warrant or capias pro fine before they are executed. To facilitate this process, the Municipal Court conducts a weekly warrant court each Thursday at 8 a.m. You may call the warrant line at 713-475-5559 for assistance. 

To take advantage of this program you should appear in person on a Thursday morning. Your ability to appear and work out a warrant is not limited to this docket, however. You may appear at any time during regular Court hours with the understanding that there may or may not be a judge available at that time to hear the matter.

Notice

If you are found guilty of an offense or offenses charged in this citation and do not have sufficient resources or income to immediately pay all or part of the fines and costs, the Court shall determine whether the fines and costs should be:

  • Paid at some later date or in specified portions at designated intervals
  • Discharged by performing community service
  • Waived in full or in part
  • Satisfied through a combination of the foregoing methods

The Court may refer your case(s) to its collection office for review of your income and expenses. You should come to court prepared to supply the name, address, and phone number of two references who are not members of your household as well as documentation to support your income, expenses and available resources such as bank balances.