Initial Appearance
The Initial Appearance is the date shown on the face of the citation. If you have not paid your ticket on or before the initial appearance date, you must come to court. Failure to appear will result in a default conviction being entered against you.
When the court is called to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Chambers on the second floor of the Municipal Building you should be seated in the audience. Following a brief explanation of the evening’s procedure, adult cases will be called from the front to the back of courtroom. When you are called, The Court Officer will read the charge into the record and you will be asked to enter a plea. You may plead guilty, no contest or not guilty. Juvenile cases are held one Monday evening a month separate from Adult Arraignment night.
Plea Options
Guilty
If you plead guilty, you should expect to be found guilty. The judge may review your driving record, criminal record, police report or other information. You will be given an opportunity to make a statement. A sentence may be imposed, and may include an order that you pay a forfeiture within a certain period of time and other penalties, depending upon the type of violation.
No Contest
If you plead no contest, you are choosing not to contest the charge. A no contest plea cannot be used against you for liability purposes in other civil proceedings. Since you are not contesting the charge, you should expect to be found guilty. The judge may review your driving record, criminal record, police report or other information. You will be given an opportunity to make a statement. A sentence may be imposed, and may include an order that you pay a forfeiture within a certain period of time and other penalties, depending upon the type of violation.
Not Guilty
You may plead not guilty in person, by email or by mail. A mailed or emailed plea must be received by the court date, and must clearly list your name, current address and citation(s). If you plead not guilty, your case will be scheduled for a mandatory meeting between you and the city prosecutor at what is called a "pre-trial conference" to discuss the possibility of a settlement. If a proposed resolution is reached, it will be presented to Judge Frandson by letter from the city prosecutor. Judge Frandson is free to accept or reject the proposal. If you and the city prosecutor cannot come to an agreement, your case will be scheduled for a trial.
When the court is called to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Chambers on the second floor of the Municipal Building you should be seated in the audience. Following a brief explanation of the evening’s procedure, adult cases will be called from the front to the back of courtroom. When you are called, The Court Officer will read the charge into the record and you will be asked to enter a plea. You may plead guilty, no contest or not guilty. Juvenile cases are held one Monday evening a month separate from Adult Arraignment night.
Plea Options
Guilty
If you plead guilty, you should expect to be found guilty. The judge may review your driving record, criminal record, police report or other information. You will be given an opportunity to make a statement. A sentence may be imposed, and may include an order that you pay a forfeiture within a certain period of time and other penalties, depending upon the type of violation.
No Contest
If you plead no contest, you are choosing not to contest the charge. A no contest plea cannot be used against you for liability purposes in other civil proceedings. Since you are not contesting the charge, you should expect to be found guilty. The judge may review your driving record, criminal record, police report or other information. You will be given an opportunity to make a statement. A sentence may be imposed, and may include an order that you pay a forfeiture within a certain period of time and other penalties, depending upon the type of violation.
Not Guilty
You may plead not guilty in person, by email or by mail. A mailed or emailed plea must be received by the court date, and must clearly list your name, current address and citation(s). If you plead not guilty, your case will be scheduled for a mandatory meeting between you and the city prosecutor at what is called a "pre-trial conference" to discuss the possibility of a settlement. If a proposed resolution is reached, it will be presented to Judge Frandson by letter from the city prosecutor. Judge Frandson is free to accept or reject the proposal. If you and the city prosecutor cannot come to an agreement, your case will be scheduled for a trial.
