FAQs

The defensive driving courses can be found at internetdrivingschool.net and www.drivesafetuscaloosacity.com. 

You can pay tickets online at tuscaloosa.com/live-play/pay-citations-fines.

Municipal codes can be viewed at the Code of Ordinances library.

Call 205-349-3870.

You may pay at the cashier’s window at Tuscaloosa Municipal Court, 2122 Gary Fitts St., or online at tuscaloosa.com/live-play/pay-citations-fines (must be by your court date). For help, call 205-248-5330.

You may use a bonding company, property bond or cash bond unless the warrant is for failure to appear, whereby you will have to post a cash bond.

You can apply for a court-appointed attorney when you appear in court. The judge will make the determination of whether you are eligible for a court-appointed attorney. Eligibility is based on financial need.

You must turn yourself in to the Tuscaloosa Police Department and post a bond. You will be given a court date. 

Suitable attire is required. Shirts and shoes are required. Halter tops, tank tops and shorts are not appropriate. No hats or scarves may be worn in the courtroom. Cellphones and electronic devices are not permitted in the courtroom. Court and security staff will not be responsible for your devices, so they must be left in the car or at home. 

If an individual has a speeding ticket and no other moving violations, the court will consider dismissal upon completion of defensive driving school and payment of the application fee and court costs of $262. You will have to appear in court to request a dismissal. The options on the other type of minor moving violations are to either plead guilty or to plead not guilty and have a trial.

Children under the age of 12 are not allowed in the courtroom.

No, all request for resets and/or continuances must be made in person.

Cash, cashier’s check, money order, or debit/credit card (services fees will apply to all card transactions). No personal checks will be accepted.

The court cost will remain the same whether you come to court or not. The court cost is already included in the amount paid for minor traffic citations. If a trial or failure to appear fine is applicable, the court cost could increase due to subpoena or late fees. The fine, however, is subject to change if a trial is requested. This is at the discretion of the judge.

The judge or the court magistrates will give you the date to pay your fines.

The judge can order a fine of up to $500 and/or six months in jail on any charge in municipal court except for driving under the influence whereby the fine and jail time can be higher. View fines and court costs for ordinance violations at tuscaloosa.com/court/ordinance-violations and for traffic citations at fines.

Only if you have signed a plea of guilt. Download and fill out the Guilty Plea Form at tuscaloosa.com/live-play/pay-citations-fines.

Maybe, if it is on the minor traffic fine schedule. You may pay your ticket at the cashier's window at Tuscaloosa Municipal Court, 2122 Sixth St. You may also mail a money order or a cashier's check along with your copy of the ticket (signed on the defendant's line) or pay your ticket online at tuscaloosa.com/live-play/pay-citations-fines as long as it is not after your court date.

You will have to appear in court on the court date on your citation. Your options will be presented to you at that time. The court will make the determination if you are eligible for a dismissal.  

Only if it is a minor traffic violation. View fines and court costs for minor traffic violations https://www.tuscaloosa.com/court/pay-citations-and-fines/traffic-citations-info.

For court-required appearances, the prosecutor will call the docket on criminal arraignment and certain traffic offenses on traffic arraignment dockets. The prosecutor will ask you whether you plead guilty or not guilty.

If you plead guilty, the prosecutor will advise you of the recommendation of a sentence to the judge and the judge will then sentence you. If you plead guilty to the court magistrate on a minor traffic violation, you will be sentenced to the settlement amount and advised when to pay the fines and court costs.

If you plead not guilty, the judge will set the trial date.

For offenses that do not require a courtroom appearance, you will go to the magistrates at the payment window and they will present you with your options. They will ask if you plead guilty or not guilty. For guilty pleas, the magistrate will provide you with a due date for payment or any other requirements.

The Municipal Court building is beside City Hall at 2122 Gary Fitts St. in downtown Tuscaloosa.