Fillmore County Traffic Court Records

Fillmore County traffic court records are kept at the 3rd Judicial District Court in Preston, Minnesota. Whether you received a citation on a state highway or a county road in the bluff country area, this page explains how to search records, pay a fine, or contest a ticket.

Fillmore County District Court

All traffic cases in Fillmore County are filed with the 3rd Judicial District Court in Preston. The court handles speeding citations, seat belt violations, driving after suspension, careless driving, and other moving violations issued anywhere in the county. Preston is a small community in the southeastern part of Minnesota's bluff country.

Fillmore County is a rural county bordering Wisconsin to the east and Iowa to the south. State Highway 52 and Highway 16 are the main corridors through the county. Traffic stops on these highways, as well as on county and township roads, are all filed with the Preston courthouse. Because Preston is a small community, it is always a good idea to call ahead before making the drive out.

Fillmore County does not use hearing officers. If you want to fight a traffic ticket, you contact the court and schedule a court date with a district court judge. Make sure you do this within 30 days of your citation. Missing the window can lead to a default judgment and may affect your license status.

Free surface lot and on-street parking are available near the courthouse. The Fillmore County District Court page on the Minnesota Judicial Branch website lists current contact details and any local rules in effect.

The screenshot below shows the Fillmore County court information page on the Minnesota Judicial Branch website.

Check the court page before your visit to confirm hours and contact details are current.

Searching Traffic Records in Fillmore County

Minnesota Courts Records Online -- MCRO -- is the free statewide tool for looking up court case information. Access it at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us. You can search Fillmore County traffic records by name, case number, or citation number. No account is needed and the search is free.

A key restriction applies to all MCRO searches. Pre-conviction cases -- those not yet resolved -- are not available online. If your citation is still pending, you will not find it in MCRO. Call the Fillmore County courthouse at (507) 765-6021 for information on any open case. Post-conviction records appear in MCRO and the system updates hourly during business hours.

If you need a certified copy of a record for legal, insurance, or other purposes, you must request it through the court clerk. MCRO is read-only and cannot process certified copy orders, fine payments, or document filings.

The image below shows the MCRO public search portal, where you can find Fillmore County traffic case records at no cost.

MCRO is available around the clock. If a recent case has not appeared yet, check back in a day or two.

Paying Traffic Fines in Fillmore County

Fillmore County traffic fines can be paid online, by phone, by mail, or in person at the Preston 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 system will accept an online payment.

By phone, call the Court Payment Center at (651) 281-3219 in the 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. No convenience fee for mail payments.

You have 30 days from your citation date to respond. Pay or notify the court that you want to contest the ticket. Doing nothing leads to a default judgment. If your citation was for no insurance, fax proof of coverage to 320-231-6507 first and follow up with the court before paying.

The screenshot below shows the online payment portal used for Fillmore County traffic fines.

Keep your payment confirmation number after completing an online or phone transaction.

Your Options After a Fillmore County Citation

When you get a traffic ticket in Fillmore County, you can pay the fine, contest it, or -- if the ticket was for no insurance -- submit proof of coverage. Paying closes the case quickly but is a guilty plea that adds a conviction to your record. If you want to fight the ticket, call (507) 765-6021 to request a court date before the 30-day window expires.

There are no hearing officers in Fillmore County. Contesting a citation means going before a district court judge. Most violations are petty misdemeanors with fines up to $300 under Minnesota Statute 169.89. Reckless driving is a misdemeanor under Minnesota Statute 169.13, which carries fines up to $1,000 and up to 90 days in jail. Speed limits are governed by Minnesota Statute 169.14.

For help understanding your options, call the statewide self-help line at (651) 435-6535, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The image below is from the Minnesota Judicial Branch traffic help page, which outlines your options after receiving a citation anywhere in the state.

Visit mncourts.gov/help-topics/traffic-issues for a full guide to handling a traffic citation in Minnesota.

Traffic Laws and Your Driving Record

Minnesota's traffic laws apply uniformly across all 87 counties, including Fillmore. Texting while driving is a primary offense under Minnesota Statute 169.475. Officers can stop you for that alone. First-offense fines run around $135 to $140. Seat belt violations are a primary offense under Minnesota Statute 169.686. Driving 100 mph or faster triggers an automatic 6-month license revocation.

Minnesota does not use a points system. The state tracks how many convictions you get within set time windows. Four offenses within 12 months leads to a 30-day license suspension. Five within 12 months triggers 90 days. Eight or more within 24 months results in a 1-year suspension. To get a copy of your driving record, the Department of Vehicle Services charges $9 for a non-certified copy. Request it using form PS2502 through the DVS records request page.

Cities in Fillmore County

Fillmore County has no cities that meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. Traffic citations issued anywhere in the county, including Preston, Spring Valley, and Rushford, are all handled through the Fillmore County District Court in Preston.

Nearby Counties

Fillmore County is in the bluff country of southeast Minnesota. Use these links for traffic court information in neighboring counties.