Brown County Traffic Court Records
Brown County traffic court records are maintained by the 5th Judicial District Court at the Brown County Courthouse in New Ulm, Minnesota. Citations issued on U.S. Highway 14, State Highway 15, or local roads are all filed here. This page covers how to search records, pay a fine, and respond to a citation before the 30-day deadline.
Brown County Overview
Brown County District Court
The Brown County District Court is part of the 5th Judicial District, which covers fifteen counties across south-central and southwestern Minnesota. Each county handles its own traffic cases locally. Brown County's court processes all traffic matters filed in the county, from simple speeding violations to contested hearings. Court Administrator Carol Weikle leads administrative operations at the Brown County Courthouse in New Ulm.
The courthouse is at 14 South State Street in New Ulm. Phone is (507) 441-7020. Hours run Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The court's page at mncourts.gov/find-courts/brown lists current contact details and any local notices. eCheck-in is available for certain case types, and remote hearing options exist for some eligible matters.
One local rule worth knowing: in-person payments at the service counter are not accepted after 2:30 p.m. on the last working day of each month. If you need to pay in person on that day, plan to arrive before that cutoff. Online and phone payments are not affected by this restriction. Brown County does not have hearing officers -- if you want to contest a citation, your case goes directly before a judge.
| Court | Brown County District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | Brown County Courthouse, 14 South State Street, New Ulm, MN 56073 |
| Phone | (507) 441-7020 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. |
| Website | mncourts.gov/find-courts/brown |
The screenshot below shows the Brown County court page on the Minnesota Judicial Branch website, where you can confirm current hours and contact information.
The court page also lists any updates to local procedures that may affect your case.
Note: In-person payments are not accepted after 2:30 p.m. on the last working day of the month -- use online or phone payment to avoid this limit.
Searching Brown County Traffic Court Records
Minnesota Courts Records Online -- MCRO -- is the free public search tool for traffic case records. Reach it at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us. You can search by name, citation number, or case number. No account is needed. MCRO covers all 87 Minnesota counties and refreshes every hour during business hours.
One restriction applies statewide: pre-conviction cases are not visible in MCRO. If your citation is recent and has not yet been paid or decided, it will not appear in an online search. For status on a pending Brown County case, call the courthouse at (507) 441-7020. Staff can tell you whether your citation is entered and what steps to take. Once a case is finalized -- paid, dismissed, or adjudicated -- it becomes publicly searchable in MCRO.
If you need certified copies of records, MCRO is not the right place. MCRO is a read-only reference tool that does not issue certified documents. Submit a request through the clerk's office at the New Ulm courthouse. Certified records are sometimes required for legal proceedings, insurance purposes, or employer background checks.
The screenshot below shows the MCRO search portal used for Brown County traffic records.
Searches on MCRO are free and take just a few seconds with a name or case number.
Note: Pre-conviction cases are not searchable in MCRO -- call Brown County at (507) 441-7020 for status on pending citations.
Paying Traffic Fines in Brown County
Brown County traffic fines can be paid online, by phone, by mail, or in person. Online payment is at webpay.courts.state.mn.us, with a $2.34 convenience fee. The online system requires a 7-day wait from your citation date before it will accept payment -- this is a standard statewide delay that allows the court time to enter the citation into the database.
Phone payments go to the Court Payment Center at (651) 281-3219 (metro) or (800) 657-3611 (toll-free). The same $2.34 fee applies. Mail payments should be sent to Court Payment Center, P.O. Box 898, Willmar, MN 56201 -- write your citation number clearly on the check. In-person payments at the Brown County Courthouse are accepted any business day, but not after 2:30 p.m. on the last working day of any given month.
The deadline to respond is 30 days from your citation date. Pay or notify the court you want to contest within that time. If your ticket was for driving without insurance, fax proof of coverage to 320-231-6507 before making any online payment. Skipping that step can cause issues with how the case gets resolved. Always save your confirmation number after any online or phone payment.
The image below shows the online Court Payment Center, used for Brown County traffic fine payments.
Keep your payment confirmation number as proof the transaction was completed.
Citation Options and Traffic Laws in Brown County
When you receive a traffic citation in Brown County, you can pay the fine, contest it, or handle an insurance issue. Paying closes the case but counts as a guilty plea. To contest, call the court at (507) 441-7020 and request a hearing before a judge. Brown County has no hearing officers -- there is no informal pre-court meeting option here. Any contested citation goes straight to a judge. The Minnesota traffic options page at mncourts.gov explains all paths in plain language.
Penalty levels in Minnesota are set by state law. Under Minnesota Statute 169.89, petty misdemeanor fines cap at $300. Most routine traffic stops fall into that category. Reckless driving under Minnesota Statute 169.13 is a misdemeanor: up to $1,000 in fines and 90 days in jail. Gross misdemeanor offenses can reach $3,000 and one year. Speed limits come from Minnesota Statute 169.14: 30 mph in towns, 55 mph on most roads, 65 mph on expressways, 70 mph on rural interstates. Driving at or above 100 mph brings a 6-month automatic revocation.
Texting while driving is a primary offense under Minnesota Statute 169.475 -- officers can stop you for it alone, without any other violation. Fines run about $135 to $140. Seat belt enforcement is also primary under Minnesota Statute 169.686. Minnesota tracks conviction counts rather than points: four in 12 months means a 30-day suspension, five means 90 days, and eight or more in 24 months brings a full year. Driving records cost $9 non-certified from the DVS using form PS2502.
The image below is from the Minnesota traffic help page, showing the full range of options available after receiving a citation.
Visit mncourts.gov/help-topics/traffic-issues for more detail on how to respond to your Brown County citation.
Note: Brown County has no hearing officers -- to contest a citation, call (507) 441-7020 to schedule a court date with a judge.
Cities in Brown County
New Ulm is the county seat and largest city in Brown County. Other communities include Sleepy Eye, Springfield, Comfrey, and Hanska. None meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. All traffic citations from anywhere in Brown County are processed at the district court in New Ulm, regardless of which city or road the violation occurred on.
Nearby Counties
Brown County is in south-central Minnesota and shares borders with several surrounding counties. If your citation was issued in a different county, use the links below to find the right court.