Juveniles

Mandatory Appearance

The Municipal Court has jurisdiction over juveniles (10 to 16 years of age at time of violation) charged with Class C misdemeanor offenses.  If you were a juvenile at the time the citation was issued, you are required to appear before the judge with a parent or legal guardian regardless of the offense and regardless of your age at the time of your initial appearance. 

Juveniles who fail to appear or who fail to pay their fine will be reported to the Department of Public Safety.  The Department of Public Safety will suspend their driver’s license.  If they do not have a driver’s license, they will not be able to obtain one until they appear in Court to dispose of their fine.

Minors (17-20 years old depending on charge):  Minors charged with alcohol, tobacco, drug paraphernalia, theft or disorderly conduct offenses must appear before the judge.  

Alcohol Offenses

Consumption, Possession, Purchase, Misrepresentation of Age, 

 If you are under the age of 21 at the time of the offense and this is your first offense, you are required to appear before the judge and:

  • Attend a 6 hour alcohol awareness class within 90 days and submit proof.
  • Complete 8-12 hours of alcohol-related community service within 90 days and submit proof.

If you fail to attend the alcohol awareness class or complete the required community service hours, your driver’s license will be suspended or denied issuance, if you do not have one, for a period of 180 days.

Tobacco and E-Cigarette Offenses

Possession, Purchase, Misrepresentation of Age

If you are under the age of 21 at the time of the offense, you are required to:

  • Attend an 8 hour tobacco awareness class within 90 days and submit proof.

These violations require a mandatory court appearance.  Juveniles under the age of 17 at the time of the offense are required by law to appear before the judge in person with a parent/legal guardian.

If you fail to complete the class, your driver’s license will be suspended or denied issuance, if you do not have one, for a period of 180 days.

Expunction of Records

Convictions from this court are criminal convictions.  You may be entitled to an expunction of the records pertaining to your case.

  • Alcohol violations – for a single conviction, you may petition this court for an expunction after your 21st birthday.
  • Tobacco violations – you may petition this court for expunction after your 21st birthday.
  • Penal Code or Penal Ordinance violations – for a single conviction of any other non-traffic violation, you may petition this Court for expunction after your 17th birthday.

In order to request an expunction, fill out the appropriate Application for Expunction, which can be found on the "Form" section of the webpage, and submit it to the Court Clerk’s office.  There is a non-refundable fee of $30 that will be due at the time you file the application. Please read the application to determine if you are eligible to request an expunction prior to filing.

Important Things to Keep in Mind

If a juvenile does not appear in court as scheduled, a hold can be placed on your Driver’s License or your ability to obtain a driver’s license.  They can also receive a separate citation for violating the promise to appear or failing to appear.