Goodhue County Traffic Records Lookup
Goodhue County traffic court records are maintained by the 1st Judicial District Court in Red Wing, Minnesota. This page covers how to search case records, pay a traffic fine, and respond to a citation issued anywhere in Goodhue County.
Goodhue County Overview
Goodhue County District Court
Goodhue County's traffic cases are heard in Red Wing at the 1st Judicial District Court. The 1st District covers several counties in southeast Minnesota and the southern metro area. The Red Wing court serves Goodhue County exclusively. The court handles the full range of traffic matters: speeding, reckless driving, texting violations, seat belt infractions, driving after suspension, and more serious charges that require a court appearance.
Goodhue County stretches from the Twin Cities metro edge down along the Mississippi River into bluff country. U.S. Highway 61 runs along the river corridor and passes through Red Wing, generating steady traffic enforcement activity. State Highway 19 and several county roads also run through the area. Citations from any of these roads end up filed with the Red Wing courthouse.
Goodhue County does not use hearing officers. If you want to contest a traffic ticket, you appear before a district court judge. The 30-day window from your citation date applies -- let it pass without action and you risk a default judgment being entered against you.
| Court | Goodhue County District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 454 W 6th St, Red Wing, MN 55066 |
| Phone | (651) 267-4800 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. |
| Website | mncourts.gov/find-courts/goodhue |
Free surface lot and on-street parking are available near the courthouse. The Goodhue County District Court page on the Minnesota Judicial Branch website lists current contact details and any local rules in effect. Call ahead to confirm current hours before visiting.
The screenshot below shows the Goodhue County court information page on the Minnesota Judicial Branch website.
Verify hours and contact info on the court page before making the trip to Red Wing.
Searching Traffic Records in Goodhue County
The free statewide tool for looking up court case information is Minnesota Courts Records Online -- MCRO. Access it at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us. You can search Goodhue County traffic records by name, case number, or citation number. No account is needed and the search is free.
Pre-conviction cases -- those not yet resolved -- are not available through MCRO. If your citation is still pending and the case has not been decided, you will not find it online. Call the Goodhue County courthouse at (651) 267-4800 for information on pending cases. Post-conviction records are available in MCRO, and the system updates hourly during business hours.
If you need certified copies of records for legal, insurance, or other use, MCRO cannot provide them. Request certified copies through the court clerk's office. Copies can be mailed to you for a fee, or held for pickup at the Red Wing courthouse.
The image below shows the MCRO public search portal, where you can find Goodhue County traffic case records at no cost.
MCRO is available around the clock from any device.
Note: Pre-conviction cases are not available through MCRO -- contact the Goodhue County courthouse at (651) 267-4800 for pending case information.
Paying Traffic Fines in Goodhue County
Goodhue County traffic fines can be paid online, by phone, by mail, or in person at the Red Wing courthouse. Online payments go through webpay.courts.state.mn.us. A $2.34 convenience fee applies to online and phone payments. Wait at least 7 days after your citation date before trying to pay online -- the system needs time to process the ticket.
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. If you do neither, a default judgment can be entered. For insurance violation citations, fax proof of coverage to 320-231-6507 first, then follow up with the court before paying.
The screenshot below shows the online payment portal used for Goodhue County traffic fines.
Keep your payment confirmation number after paying online or by phone.
Contesting a Citation in Goodhue County
When you receive a traffic ticket in Goodhue County, you can pay the fine, contest the citation, or -- if it was for no insurance -- submit proof of coverage. Paying closes the case but is a guilty plea that adds a conviction to your record. To fight the ticket, call (651) 267-4800 to request a court date before the 30-day window closes.
Goodhue County does not have hearing officers. Contesting a citation means appearing before a district court judge. Most traffic violations are petty misdemeanors with fines up to $300 under Minnesota Statute 169.89. Reckless driving is a misdemeanor under Minnesota Statute 169.13, with fines up to $1,000 and up to 90 days in jail. Speed limits are governed by Minnesota Statute 169.14.
For free help with 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.
Note: Goodhue County has no hearing officers -- if you want to contest a citation, call the court at (651) 267-4800 to request a court date before the 30-day deadline.
Traffic Laws and Your Driving Record
Minnesota's traffic laws apply uniformly across all 87 counties, including Goodhue. Texting while driving is a primary offense under Minnesota Statute 169.475 -- officers can stop you for it alone. First-offense fines run around $135 to $140. Seat belt violations are also 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. Goodhue County convictions count toward these statewide totals. To get a copy of your driving record, the Department of Vehicle Services charges $9 for a non-certified copy. Submit form PS2502 through the DVS records request page.
Cities in Goodhue County
Goodhue 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 Red Wing, Cannon Falls, and Zumbrota -- are all handled through the Goodhue County District Court in Red Wing.
Nearby Counties
Goodhue County borders several other counties in southeast Minnesota. Use these links for traffic court information in neighboring areas.