Rochester Traffic Court Records
Rochester traffic court records are handled through the Olmsted County District Court, which serves the 3rd Judicial District in southeastern Minnesota. This page covers how to search for citations, check case status, pay fines, and contest a ticket you received in Rochester. The Olmsted County Courthouse in downtown Rochester is the main location for all traffic court matters in the city.
Rochester Overview
Olmsted County District Court
Traffic cases from Rochester are filed at the Olmsted County District Court, part of the 3rd Judicial District. The courthouse is located at 151 Fourth Street SE in Rochester. Court Administrator Hans Holland oversees administrative operations. The court handles all traffic citations issued in Rochester and the rest of Olmsted County.
Court hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. On Wednesdays the court opens at 9:00 a.m. and closes at 4:30 p.m. If you plan to visit in person, arrive well before closing time. Parking is available in 90-minute metered spots in the front lot. There is also a parking ramp connected to the nearby Holiday Inn, which you can reach via the skyway system, so that is another option if the front lot is full.
Olmsted County does not have hearing officers for traffic matters. That means there is no informal pre-court option for contesting a citation. If you want to fight a ticket, you go before a judge. Remote hearing options are available, including Zoom hearings that you can attend from a room set up inside the courthouse or from your own location. The court posts its calendar each day at 7:00 p.m. for the following business day, and three display monitors inside the courthouse show current case information throughout the day.
| Court | Olmsted County District Court (3rd Judicial District) |
|---|---|
| Address | Olmsted County Courthouse, 151 Fourth Street SE, Rochester, MN 55904 |
| Phone | (507) 722-7264 |
| Fax | (507) 285-8996 |
| Hours | Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; Wed: 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. |
| Court Administrator | Hans Holland |
| Website | mncourts.gov/find-courts/olmsted |
| County Page | Olmsted County Traffic Court Records |
The image below shows the Olmsted County court page on the Minnesota Judicial Branch website, where you can find current contact information and court calendar access.
Check this page before your visit to confirm current hours and Zoom hearing options if applicable.
Searching Traffic Records in Rochester
The Minnesota Courts Records Online system, known as MCRO, is the state's free tool for looking up court case information. Search by name, case number, or citation number at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us. The system covers Olmsted County and every other county in Minnesota. No account or login is needed and there is no fee to search.
One key limit applies. Pre-conviction cases -- those not yet resolved -- are not available through MCRO. If you received a citation and it is still pending, you will not find it in the online system. For pending case status, call the Olmsted County courthouse at (507) 722-7264 or visit in person during business hours. Post-conviction records are available online, and MCRO updates hourly during business hours.
Public access computers at the courthouse allow in-person record searches. If you need certified copies, you must request them through the clerk's office. There is a per-page fee for copies. MCRO is read-only -- you cannot file documents or pay fines through the system.
The image below shows the MCRO search portal where you can look up Rochester traffic court records for free.
MCRO is free and does not require a login to use.
Note: Pre-conviction cases are not available through MCRO -- call Olmsted County District Court at (507) 722-7264 for pending case information.
Paying Traffic Fines in Rochester
If your Rochester citation is a payable offense, you have four ways to pay: online, by phone, by mail, or in person at the courthouse. Online payments go through webpay.courts.state.mn.us. A $2.34 convenience fee applies to online and phone payments. You must wait at least 7 days after your citation date before the payment portal will accept your ticket, because it takes time for the citation to be entered into the court system.
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 so the payment gets applied to the right case.
You have 30 days from the citation date to respond. Either pay or let the court know you want to contest before that deadline. Missing the deadline can result in a default judgment and added consequences. If your citation was for no insurance, do not pay online. Submit proof of insurance first (fax to 320-231-6507) and then contact the court about next steps.
The screenshot below shows the online Court Payment Center portal for paying Rochester traffic fines.
Keep your payment confirmation number as proof of payment after any online or phone transaction.
Your Options After Getting a Citation in Rochester
When you get a traffic ticket in Rochester, you have three main paths. Pay the fine, which closes the case as a guilty plea. Contest the citation and request a court date. Or, for a no-insurance citation, submit proof of coverage and follow up with the court. Olmsted County does not have hearing officers, so if you want to fight the ticket, you will appear before a judge.
To request a court date for a contested citation, contact the Olmsted County District Court at (507) 722-7264 before the 30-day deadline. Remote hearings via Zoom are available and can be done from the Zoom rooms set up inside the courthouse or from your own location. Ask the court about availability when you call to schedule. The court calendar is posted each evening at 7:00 p.m. for the next business day.
Most traffic violations in Minnesota are petty misdemeanors. Under Minnesota Statute 169.89, petty misdemeanors carry fines up to $300. Reckless driving is a misdemeanor under Minnesota Statute 169.13, with fines up to $1,000 and up to 90 days in jail. The statewide self-help line at (651) 435-6535 can explain your options without giving legal advice.
Visit mncourts.gov/help-topics/traffic-issues for a full overview of how to respond to a citation in Minnesota.
Traffic Violations and Penalties
Minnesota traffic violations fall into several categories. Most citations -- speeding, failure to yield, running a stop sign -- are petty misdemeanors with fines up to $300. Speed limits are set under Minnesota Statute 169.14: 30 mph in urban areas, 55 mph on most roads, 65 mph on expressways, 70 mph on rural interstates. Driving 100 mph or faster triggers an automatic 6-month license revocation.
Texting while driving is a primary offense under Minnesota Statute 169.475. Officers can stop you for it 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 carrying up to $1,000 in fines and 90 days in jail.
Minnesota does not use a points system. It tracks conviction counts. Four convictions in 12 months leads to a 30-day license suspension. Five in 12 months means 90 days. Eight or more in 24 months results in a 1-year suspension. To get your driving record, the Department of Vehicle Services charges $9 for a non-certified copy. Request it through the DVS records request page.
Nearby Cities
Rochester is in southeastern Minnesota. The nearest qualifying cities are in the Twin Cities metro area, about 90 miles to the northwest.