Grant County Traffic Records
Grant County traffic court records are on file at the 8th Judicial District Court in Elbow Lake, Minnesota. This page explains how to search those records, pay a fine, and respond to a citation issued anywhere in Grant County.
Grant County Overview
Grant County District Court
The Grant County District Court in Elbow Lake handles all traffic cases filed in the county as part of Minnesota's 8th Judicial District. The 8th District covers a large area of west-central Minnesota. Traffic matters handled here include speeding citations, driving after suspension, careless driving charges, texting violations, and other moving violations issued by state troopers or the Grant County Sheriff's Office.
Grant County is a rural west-central Minnesota county with a small population. State Highway 55 and several county roads carry the bulk of traffic through the area. The caseload in Grant County is smaller than in metro or larger rural counties, but the court operates on the same schedule and follows the same rules as any other Minnesota district court. Call ahead before visiting Elbow Lake to make sure someone is available to help you at the clerk's window.
Grant County does not use hearing officers. If you want to contest a traffic citation, you appear before a district court judge. You must request a court date within 30 days of your citation. Letting the deadline pass without responding risks a default judgment being entered against you.
| Court | Grant County District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 10 2nd St NE, Elbow Lake, MN 56531 |
| Phone | (218) 685-7675 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. |
| Website | mncourts.gov/find-courts/grant |
Free surface lot and on-street parking are available near the courthouse. The Grant County District Court page on the Minnesota Judicial Branch website lists current contact details and court information.
The screenshot below shows the Grant County court information page on the Minnesota Judicial Branch website.
Check the court page before visiting to confirm hours and contact details are current.
Searching Traffic Records in Grant County
The free public search portal for Minnesota court records is MCRO -- Minnesota Courts Records Online. Access it at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us. You can look up Grant County traffic cases by name, case number, or citation number. The search is free and no login is required.
One key limitation applies. Pre-conviction cases -- those still pending and not yet resolved -- are not visible through MCRO. If your citation is recent and the case has not been decided, you will not find it online. Call the Grant County courthouse at (218) 685-7675 for information on any open or pending case. Post-conviction records appear in MCRO and the system updates hourly during business hours. Check back in a day or two if a recent case has not shown up yet.
Certified copies of records cannot be obtained through MCRO. The clerk's office can prepare certified copies for a fee and either mail them to you or have them ready for pickup at the Elbow Lake courthouse.
The image below shows the MCRO public search portal, where you can find Grant 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 Grant County courthouse at (218) 685-7675 for pending case information.
Paying Traffic Fines in Grant County
Grant County traffic fines can be paid online, by phone, by mail, or in person at the Elbow Lake courthouse. Online payments go through webpay.courts.state.mn.us. A $2.34 convenience fee applies to online and phone payments. You need to wait at least 7 days after your citation date before the online system will accept a 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 so the payment gets applied to the right case. No convenience fee for mail payments.
You have 30 days from the date on your citation to respond -- by paying or notifying the court that you want to contest the ticket. Ignoring a ticket leads to a default judgment. If your citation was for no insurance, fax proof of coverage to 320-231-6507 first and then follow up with the court before paying.
The screenshot below shows the online Court Payment Center portal used for Grant County traffic fines.
Save your payment confirmation number after completing an online or phone transaction.
Contesting a Citation in Grant County
When you receive a traffic ticket in Grant County, you have three main choices: pay the fine, contest the citation, or -- if the ticket was for no insurance -- submit proof of coverage. Paying closes the case fast but is a guilty plea that adds a conviction to your record. If you want to fight the ticket, call (218) 685-7675 to request a court date before the 30-day deadline.
Grant County does not use 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 set under Minnesota Statute 169.14: 30 mph in urban areas, 55 mph on most rural roads, 65 mph on expressways, and 70 mph on rural interstates.
For free 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 options for people who receive citations anywhere in Minnesota.
Visit mncourts.gov/help-topics/traffic-issues for a full overview of your rights and options after a citation.
Note: Grant County has no hearing officers -- if you want to contest a citation, call the court at (218) 685-7675 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 Grant. Texting while driving is a primary offense under Minnesota Statute 169.475 -- officers can stop you for it without any other violation. 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 a 90-day suspension. Eight or more within 24 months results in a 1-year suspension. These rules apply statewide, so Grant County convictions count toward the same totals as any other Minnesota conviction. 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 Grant County
Grant 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 Elbow Lake, Herman, and Hoffman, are all handled through the Grant County District Court in Elbow Lake.
Nearby Counties
Grant County sits in west-central Minnesota and borders several other counties, each with its own district court. Use these links for traffic court information in neighboring areas.