When are Court Appearances Mandatory in Municipal Court?

If you have received a municipal court summons, you may wonder if it is mandatory for you to make a court appearance. The answer may be contained on the ticket itself. If the summons is marked “Court Appearance Required”, you must present in court. Otherwise, a warrant could ultimately be issued for your arrest.

A summons marked “Court Appearance Required” is not the only time individuals are required in court. You cannot protest a ticket without a court appearance. Unless you enter a guilty plea by mail, the court will assign you a date. At that time, you will have the opportunity to enter your “Not Guilty” plea and proceed from there.

New Jersey has clear rules including personal court appearances. In addition to “Not Guilty” pleas, all traffic tickets involving personal injury require court appearances. Court appearances are also required for matters concerning charges not listed in the Statewide Violations Schedule.   These violations pertain to motor vehicle offenses. Parking in a handicapped space without credentials is an example of a mandatory court appearance.

Criminal charges in all courts require court appearances. Municipal courts deal with lesser criminal offenses such as simple assault, shoplifting, and CDS possession. All of these charges require the defendant to appear in court.

Can You Go Alone to Court?

There is no rule mandating defendants to secure legal counsel. However, it is important to consider the consequences. If a case is severe enough to warrant a court appearance, it is important to have a lawyer. The same may be true of some tickets that do not require an appearance. When you pay a ticket by mail or online, you are entering a guilty plea. A tarnished driving abstract or a criminal record is no small consideration.

Why Your Need an Attorney

Municipal calendars are generally filled with various types of cases. Judges are expected to clear their calendars as quickly as possible. In order to do so, they often refer defendants or their counsel to speak with the prosecutor. This process involves skilled negotiation. It is important to retain an attorney that deals with municipal court offenses on a regular basis. This will speed your time in court and allow you to move on from the alleged offense. At the law offices of NJ Ticket Attorneys, we want to help you maintain your reputation and fiscal control. Contact us to discuss your case.

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