FAQs • Canyon • CivicEngage

When is my court date?: Unless you are a juvenile defendant (a defendant who is aged 16 or younger), your appearance is required within twelve (12) straight days from the day you received your citation. If you are a juvenile defendant or the parent of a juvenile defendant, the State of Texas has special requirements for your appearance. Note that calling the court does not constitute an appearance. Juveniles will be sent a summons to appear. You may email the court if you would like to appear prior to your scheduled court date and time.

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Municipal Court

1. How can I make my payment or payment plan?: You may pay violations online www.municipalonlinepayments.com/canyontx; by mail to 1317 4th Avenue, Canyon, TX 79015 or by telephone 833-318-2856. To request a payment plan you may complete the payment plan request form on the payment site www.municipalonlinepayments.com/canyontx.

2. I want to obtain a marriage license, birth certificate or child support orders?

You will need to contact the county that you reside in for a marriage license.

Potter County’s website and contact information is https://www.co.potter.tx.us/ and Randall County’s website and contact information https://www.randallcounty.gov/ .

3. Is the Municipal Court open to the public?: The Municipal Court is open to the public with the business hours of Monday and Wednesday 8:00am to 6:00pm and Tuesday and Thursday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. The Canyon Municipal Court follows all city holidays and closings due to weather. Most cases can be paid online www.municipalonlinepayments.com/canyontx or you may email the court at court@canyontx.com with questions.

4. How do I find out the amount of my fine?: You may pay your fine online www.municipalonlinepayments.com/canyontx, mail payment to 1317 4th Avenue, Canyon, TX 79015, or by telephone at 833-318-2856. You may email if you have questions about resolving your violation.

5. How may I resolve my citation online?

There are many ways to resolve your citation online. Your citation may be eligible for a deferred disposition by going to www.municipalonlinepayments.com/canyontx or a driving safety course by logging onto www.municipalonlinepayments.com/canyontx, both are options to keep the conviction for a traffic offense from reporting on your driving record. You may also select the option to plea and pay your citation online at www.municipalonlinepayments.com/canyontx. Note that online payments where the option for deferred disposition or driving safety course are NOT selected constitute a plea of no contest and a judgment will be entered. As required by law, the judgment is reported to DPS as a conviction on your driving record.

If you are unable to pay the fine and court costs of a conviction, you may be eligible to complete community service hours. Community service may be requested from the judge either in writing or by appearance in court. www.canyontx.com/114/Municipal-court You will need to complete a financial form.

6. How do I see a judge/What are the court times?: Our court times are Monday thru Thursday and are listed here www.canyontx.com/114/Municipal-court. You may request a virtual court session Canyon Municipal Court link . Please email a copy of your photo ID to the court. You may request an in person hearing at court@canyontx.com .

7. What if I don’t agree with my citation and want to contest it?: You may contest your citation by emailing your not guilty plea to court@canyontx.com. You will need to include a picture of your current photo ID. If you would like to speak with a prosecutor, you may request a prosecutor’s docket setting via email court@canyontx.com. You will be notified by mail of your court date and time to meet with the prosecutor. This will be a virtual setting. Please review the instructions for virtual court prior to your docket. www.canyontx.com/114/Municipal-court If you can not attend virtually, please contact the court for accommodations.

8. How do I keep a citation from going on my driving record?: You may have two options to keep a traffic citation from reporting on your driving record. A deferred disposition www.municipalonlinepayments.com/canyontx is a form of modified probation and the driving safety course www.municipalonlinepayments.com/canyontx. Completing either option as described in the instructions will result in the citation being dismissed and the court will not report a conviction. Note that these options are not available to CDL holders and for certain offenses. Deferred Disposition is also subject to court approval.

9. Why does my citation not appear in the system?: In most cases the citation is filed with the court on the next business day, but in some cases it could take a few business days before the citation is submitted by the officer to the court. If you are unable to find your citation online, you may contact the court at court@canyontx.com. Please include your full name and date of birth in all emails.

10. How may I check to see if my ticket is in warrant status?: You can check the court’s online payment cite and enter your information. www.municipalonlinepayments.com/canyontx

11. When is my court date?: Unless you are a juvenile defendant (a defendant who is aged 16 or younger), your appearance is required within twelve (12) straight days from the day you received your citation. If you are a juvenile defendant or the parent of a juvenile defendant, the State of Texas has special requirements for your appearance. Note that calling the court does not constitute an appearance. Juveniles will be sent a summons to appear. You may email the court if you would like to appear prior to your scheduled court date and time.

12. What is the court attire?

Court Attire is Strictly Enforced:

No tank/halter/strapless tops
No short shorts/skirts
No baggy pants
No hats
Shoes are required

13. How do I request time served?: Defendants must provide documentation from the jail showing the book-in date and the release date or jail paperwork with a court order showing their incarceration period in TDC or a federal prison. A criminal docket sheet from another court is not sufficient. The court will not call jails to obtain proof of incarceration. Please see the Motion for Time Served Request. Canyon Municipal Court link

14. How do I request community service?

Defendants must appear in person or by mail to request a Financial Form Canyon Municipal Court link. The application will not be considered if proper proof is not supplied nor will you be contacted for further information. Provide supporting documentation for the information put on the Financial Form.

The following documents, if they apply, Should be attached to support your request for community service.

Current pay stubs or W2 or Income Tax Filing for all persons working in the household, proof of public assistance received by anyone in the household; food stamps TANF; and Medicaid unemployment payments received by anyone in the household; workers' compensation payments received by anyone in the household SSI or SSD award letter received by anyone in the household; letter from employer indicating layoff or reduction of hours received by anyone in the household; and medical records of anyone in the household indicating inability to work.

YOU WILL ONLY BE ALLOWED TO WORK COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS IF YOU ARE FOUND INDIGENT OR YOU ARE A STUDENT IN A SECONDARY SCHOOL and the imposition of community service will not cause an undue hardship. You may also request a job search. The court’s job search program allows the defendant 30 days to document his search for employment and return the document to the court for review.

Note: Under State law, a judge also has the authority to waive payment and community service hours if the defendant presents proof that all alternative methods of discharging the fine or costs would impose an undue hardship upon the defendant.

15. What should I expect when requesting a court date (Pre-Trial Hearings)?

Prior to the day of trial, you must attend a docket. At this docket, the court will go over your rights at trial. You may also request to speak to the prosecutor and receive a plea offer. If you and the prosecutor can agree on a way to resolve your case (plea agreement), your plea will be present to the court at the docket. Most cases are resolved this way, but the court it not required to follow the plea agreement. If the court decides not to follow the plea agreement, you may withdraw your plea and the court will set your case for trial.

If you and the prosecutor cannot reach a plea agreement or if you do not wish to speak with the prosecutor, then the court will visit with you about how to resolve your case.

16. I missed my court date. What are my options?: You have the following options available: 1) You may pay the fine; or 2) you may post a bond and request a trial setting. 3) You may discuss your options with an attorney. The court cannot provide legal advice.

17. I received a ticket for no insurance or unconfirmed insurance but I have insurance?: Insurance citations may be handled online, by mail or in-person at the court. You must provide the declaration page of your insurance policy along with the insurance card. For the judge to consider the citation for a dismissal, the declaration page must cover the date and time the citation was received and the defendant (permissive use insurance policies will be verified by the court)..

18. I have a CDL (Commercial License)or had a CDL at the time of my violation?: You are ineligible for a Driving Safety Course or Deferred Disposition for a traffic violation.

19. Where can I learn more about Driving Safety Course or Deferred Disposition for dismissing a citation?: View our options for resolving your case. Canyon Municipal Court link

20. If I have a warrant, will I get arrested when I appear in person voluntarily at the court?

Individuals who appear voluntarily at the Canyon Municipal Court will not be arrested. If you are unable to pay the violation in full you will need to appear at 1317 4^th Avenue, Canyon, TX to discuss payment options. THIS COURT OFFERS YOU A “SAFE HARBOR” TO TURN YOURSELF IN ON CLASS C WARRANTS ISSUED BY THIS COURT:

In order to promote justice, ensure due process and the equal treatment of all persons, some of whom may be indigent or facing financial hardships, and to help clear outstanding arrest warrants and capias pro fine warrants, this court has a policy that it will not arrest or jail any person who voluntarily surrenders herself/himself to this court on warrants issued by our court if you make a good-faith effort to resolve the case before YOU ARE ARRESTED AND THE WARRANT IS EXECUTED. In other words, if you have active Class C misdemeanor warrants issued by this court and you voluntarily come in person to court YOU WILL NOT BE ARRESTED, THE WARRANTS(S) WILL BE RECALLED, AND YOU WILL BE GIVEN A COURT DATE TO SPEAK TO THE JUDGE ABOUT YOUR CASE, WITHOUT FEAR OF BEING ARRESTED.