Search Benton County Traffic Court Records
Benton County traffic court records are kept by the 7th Judicial District Court at the Benton County Courthouse in Foley, Minnesota. If you received a traffic citation anywhere in the county, this page explains how to search records through MCRO, pay your fine, and respond before the 30-day deadline closes.
Benton County Overview
Benton County District Court
Benton County is part of the 7th Judicial District. This district spans a broad area of central and western Minnesota, but each county has its own courthouse where traffic cases are filed locally. The Benton County court processes all traffic citations issued within the county. Court Administrator Sara Grife oversees daily operations at the courthouse in Foley.
The courthouse address is 615 Highway 23, Foley, MN 56329. Mailing address for correspondence is PO Box 189, Foley, MN 56329. The main phone line is (320) 968-5205. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Free public surface lot parking is available near the building. The Benton County court page at mncourts.gov lists current contact details and any local notices.
Benton County does not have hearing officers. If you want to fight a citation rather than pay it, you must call the court and ask to set a hearing date before a judge. The 30-day clock starts the day your citation is issued. If you have questions before deciding how to respond, the statewide self-help line at (651) 435-6535 is available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
| Court | Benton County District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | Benton County Courthouse, 615 Highway 23, Foley, MN 56329 |
| Mailing | PO Box 189, Foley, MN 56329 |
| Phone | (320) 968-5205 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. |
| Website | mncourts.gov/find-courts/benton |
The screenshot below shows the Benton County court information page on the Minnesota Judicial Branch website, where current details and local resources are listed.
Bookmark the court page at mncourts.gov for quick access to Benton County court details when you need them.
Looking Up Benton County Traffic Records
The Minnesota Courts Records Online system -- MCRO -- is the free public tool for searching court case records. Access it at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us without creating an account. Search by name, case number, or citation number. The system covers all Minnesota counties including Benton and updates hourly during business hours.
One important restriction: pre-conviction cases are not visible through MCRO. If your traffic citation is recent and has not been paid or otherwise resolved, it will not appear in an online search. For status on a pending Benton County case, call (320) 968-5205 or visit the Foley courthouse. Post-conviction records -- cases that have been paid, dismissed, or decided by a judge -- become publicly searchable in MCRO once closed.
Need certified copies of records? MCRO is read-only and does not issue certified documents. Submit a formal request at the clerk's office in Foley for those. Certified copies are sometimes needed for legal proceedings, insurance claims, or employer verification.
The image below shows the MCRO search interface used to look up Benton County traffic court records at no cost.
MCRO is free and fast -- enter a name or case number and results appear within seconds.
Note: Pending traffic cases are not searchable in MCRO -- call Benton County at (320) 968-5205 for status on open citations.
Paying Traffic Fines in Benton County
Traffic fines in Benton County can be paid online, by phone, by mail, or in person. Online payments go through the statewide Court Payment Center at webpay.courts.state.mn.us. A $2.34 convenience fee applies. The portal requires a 7-day wait from your citation date before accepting payment -- this is the standard statewide window for entering new citations into the database.
To pay by phone, call (651) 281-3219 in the metro or (800) 657-3611 toll-free. The same $2.34 fee applies over the phone. For mail payments, send a check or money order to Court Payment Center, P.O. Box 898, Willmar, MN 56201. Write your citation number on the check. In-person payments are accepted at the Benton County Courthouse in Foley during regular court hours.
The response deadline is 30 days from your citation date. This applies whether you are paying or contesting. If your citation was for driving without insurance, submit proof of coverage by fax to 320-231-6507 before attempting any online payment. Skipping that step may complicate your case. Missing the 30-day window entirely can result in a default judgment.
The screenshot below shows the online Court Payment Center portal used for Benton County traffic fine payments.
The online payment portal is available around the clock, making it convenient even when the courthouse is closed.
Citation Response Options and Traffic Laws
After receiving a traffic citation in Benton County, you can pay the fine, contest it, or address an insurance matter. Paying closes the case and acts as a guilty plea. Contesting means calling the court and scheduling a hearing date with a judge. Since Benton County has no hearing officers, any contested citation goes directly before a judge -- not an informal pre-court meeting. The Minnesota traffic help page at mncourts.gov explains each option in clear language.
Most traffic violations are petty misdemeanors. Under Minnesota Statute 169.89, the fine cap for a petty misdemeanor is $300. Reckless driving under Minnesota Statute 169.13 steps up to a misdemeanor, carrying up to $1,000 in fines and up to 90 days in jail. Speed limits are governed by Minnesota Statute 169.14: 30 mph in urban areas, 55 mph on most state roads, 65 mph on expressways, and 70 mph on rural interstates. Reaching 100 mph 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 with no other violation. Fines run about $135 to $140. Seat belt violations are also a primary offense under Minnesota Statute 169.686. Minnesota does not use a points system. Four convictions in 12 months triggers a 30-day suspension. Five in 12 months means 90 days. Eight or more in 24 months brings a 1-year revocation. Driving records cost $9 for a non-certified copy from the DVS using form PS2502.
The image below is from the Minnesota traffic help page, which walks you through options after receiving a citation anywhere in the state, including Benton County.
The traffic help page also covers how to reopen a case or request a payment plan if you are struggling to pay the full amount at once.
Note: Benton County has no hearing officers -- to contest a citation, call (320) 968-5205 and request a court date directly before the 30-day deadline.
Cities in Benton County
Foley is the county seat of Benton County. Other communities in the county include Sauk Rapids, Gilman, Rice, and Ronneby. None of these cities meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. All traffic citations issued anywhere in Benton County -- city or rural -- are processed through the 7th Judicial District Court at the Foley courthouse.
Nearby Counties
Benton County sits in central Minnesota and borders several other counties. If your citation was issued in a different county, use the links below to find the right court information.