Minneapolis Traffic Court Records

Minneapolis traffic court records are filed and maintained through the Hennepin County District Court, part of the 4th Judicial District. This page covers how to search for citations, check case status, pay fines, and contest a ticket you received in Minneapolis. Whether your citation came on a city street, a freeway entrance, or a county road passing through the city, Hennepin County District Court is where your case is handled.

Hennepin County District Court

Traffic cases from Minneapolis go to the Hennepin County District Court in the 4th Judicial District. This is one of the busiest courts in the state. It handles a large number of traffic matters each year. The main courthouse sits in downtown Minneapolis. Court staff can answer questions about your specific case and tell you what steps to take next.

Hennepin County runs three court service locations. The main Government Center downtown handles the bulk of traffic matters for Minneapolis. The Brookdale Service Center at 6125 Shingle Creek Parkway in Brooklyn Center serves the northern part of the county. The Ridgedale Service Center at 12601 Ridgedale Drive in Minnetonka covers the western part. If you live in Minneapolis, your case will most likely be at the downtown location unless the court sends you elsewhere.

One feature Hennepin County offers that many smaller counties do not is a Violations Bureau. For payable traffic offenses, you may be able to handle your case through the Violations Bureau without appearing before a judge. Check the Violations Bureau page to see if your case qualifies. There is also a Warrant Helpline at (612) 540-6485 if you have a warrant tied to an old traffic matter and want to clear it. Video hearings are available by appointment for some case types.

Hearing officers are also available in Hennepin County. A hearing officer can review your case before it goes to a judge. That is an option not every county in Minnesota offers. Specialty courts -- Drug Court, Veterans Court, Mental Health Court -- exist here too, but those are for more complex matters that go beyond a typical traffic citation.

The image below shows the Hennepin County court information page on the Minnesota Judicial Branch website, where you can find current contact details, Violations Bureau access, and court calendar information.

Check this page before your visit to confirm current hours and which service center handles your specific case type.

Searching Traffic Records in Minneapolis

The Minnesota Courts Records Online system, known as MCRO, is the free public tool for looking up court case records statewide. You can search by name, case number, or citation number. The system covers all counties including Hennepin. Access it at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us. No account or login is needed.

There is one key limit to know. Pre-conviction cases -- meaning cases that have not yet been resolved -- are not available through MCRO. If your citation was recent and the case is still open, you will not find it in the online system. For pending case status, call Hennepin County at 612-348-6000 or visit the courthouse in person. Post-conviction records are available online, and MCRO updates hourly during business hours.

Public access computers at the courthouse let you search records on-site. Certified copies of records must be requested through the court clerk and carry a per-page fee. MCRO is a read-only system -- you cannot submit documents or pay fines through it.

The image below shows the MCRO public access portal, where you can look up Minneapolis traffic case records at no cost.

MCRO searches are free and do not require an account.

Paying Traffic Fines in Minneapolis

For payable Minneapolis traffic citations, you have four payment options: online, by phone, by mail, or in person. Online payments go through webpay.courts.state.mn.us. There is a $2.34 convenience fee for online and phone payments. You must wait at least 7 days after the citation date before the system will accept your payment, because it takes time for the ticket to be entered into the court system.

Hennepin County also has a Violations Bureau for payable offenses, which is separate from standard online payment. Through the Violations Bureau you may be able to resolve the case without a court appearance. Check the Violations Bureau page to see if your citation qualifies for that process.

By phone, call the Court Payment Center at (651) 281-3219 (metro) or (800) 657-3611 (toll-free). To pay by mail, send a check or money order to: Court Payment Center, P.O. Box 898, Willmar, MN 56201. Write your citation number on the check. You have 30 days from the citation date to respond -- either pay or tell the court you want to contest. Missing the deadline can lead to a default judgment and other consequences.

The screenshot below shows the online Court Payment Center portal used for paying Minneapolis traffic fines.

Save your confirmation number after any online or phone payment as proof.

Your Options After Getting a Citation

When you get a traffic ticket in Minneapolis, you have several paths. You can pay the fine, which counts as a guilty plea. You can contest the citation. Or, in Hennepin County, you can work with a hearing officer before the case goes to a judge. That informal option can result in a reduced fine, a payment plan, or a continuance for dismissal if you meet certain conditions.

To request a hearing officer appointment, call the court at 612-348-6000. Not every citation qualifies, but it is worth asking. If you want to contest the citation in front of a judge instead, you also need to contact the court before the 30-day deadline to get a court date set.

Most traffic violations in Minnesota are petty misdemeanors. Under Minnesota Statute 169.89, a petty misdemeanor carries a fine of up to $300. More serious violations -- reckless driving, for instance -- can reach misdemeanor level with higher fines and jail time under Minnesota Statute 169.13.

If you have a warrant related to an old Minneapolis traffic case, call the Warrant Helpline at (612) 540-6485. For general legal questions, the statewide self-help line is (651) 435-6535, available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Visit mncourts.gov/help-topics/traffic-issues for a broader overview of your options.

Traffic Violations and Penalties

Minnesota traffic violations fall into categories based on how serious they are. Most citations -- speeding, improper lane use, failure to yield -- are petty misdemeanors with fines up to $300. Minnesota Statute 169.14 sets speed limits at 30 mph in urban areas, 55 mph on most roads, 65 mph on expressways, and 70 mph on rural interstates. Driving 100 mph or faster triggers an automatic 6-month license revocation no matter what else happens in the case.

Texting while driving is a primary offense under Minnesota Statute 169.475. Officers can pull you over for that alone without needing another reason. The fine is typically around $135 to $140. Seat belt violations are a primary offense under Minnesota Statute 169.686. Reckless driving under Minnesota Statute 169.13 is a misdemeanor with fines up to $1,000 and up to 90 days in jail.

Minnesota does not use a point system on driver records. Instead, the state counts convictions. Four offenses within 12 months leads to a 30-day license suspension. Five offenses in 12 months means a 90-day suspension. Eight or more in 24 months results in a 1-year suspension. If you need a copy of your driving record, the Department of Vehicle Services charges $9 for a non-certified copy. Use the DVS records request page to order one.

Nearby Cities

These nearby cities also have traffic court record pages. Each city's traffic cases are handled through its respective county court.