Hennepin County Traffic Records
Hennepin County traffic court records are filed with the 4th Judicial District Court in Minneapolis, the largest trial court in Minnesota. This page explains how to search those records, pay a fine, find the right courthouse location, and contest a citation.
Hennepin County Overview
The 4th Judicial District Court
The Hennepin County District Court is the sole court in Minnesota's 4th Judicial District, dedicated entirely to Hennepin County. Court Administrator Sara Gonsalves leads operations. The court handles the highest volume of traffic cases in the state, covering the cities of Minneapolis, Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Edina, and dozens of other municipalities within the county.
The court operates from four locations. Each serves different functions for traffic matters.
| Court | Hennepin County District Court |
|---|---|
| Government Center | 300 South Sixth Street, Minneapolis, MN 55487 |
| Public Safety Facility | 401 Fourth Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55415 |
| Brookdale Location | 6125 Shingle Creek Pkwy, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430 |
| Ridgedale Location | 12601 Ridgedale Drive, Minnetonka, MN 55305 |
| Phone | 612-348-6000 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm |
| Website | mncourts.gov/find-courts/hennepin |
Note: If you have a warrant, call the Warrant Helpline at (612) 540-6485. Staff can give you information and schedule a hearing. Your warrant stays active until you appear in court, so it is better to call and set a date than to wait.
Violations Bureau and Hearing Officers
Hennepin County has both a Violations Bureau and Hearing Officers for traffic matters. This setup is unique among Minnesota counties. Many petty misdemeanor traffic tickets can be handled through the Violations Bureau without going before a judge. Hearing Officers handle contested cases and some more complex traffic matters.
The Violations Bureau and Hearing Office page is at mncourts.gov/find-courts/hennepin/hennepinviolationsbureauandhearingoffice.
The Violations Bureau can resolve many routine citations quickly. If you want to contest a ticket and request a Hearing Officer, you do so through this office. Video hearings are available by appointment or walk-in at the Government Center location. That is a useful option if you cannot take time off work to appear in person.
Searching Traffic Court Records Online
Use MCRO to search public Hennepin County traffic case records for free. The address is publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us. You can search by party name, case number, or citation number. Hennepin County has a large volume of cases, so a name search may return many results. Use a case number if you have one.
Search results show charges, hearing dates, case status, and outcome. Pre-conviction cases are not publicly visible under Minnesota law. Once a verdict or dismissal is recorded, the case appears in the public record. Certified copy requests cost $2.34 per page and can take up to 30 days to process.
Jury Scam Warning: The Hennepin County court will never ask law enforcement officers to collect fines over the phone. If you receive a call demanding payment to avoid arrest, it is a scam. Do not pay.
Paying a Traffic Fine
Hennepin County traffic fines can be paid online, by phone, by mail, or in person at any of the four courthouse locations during business hours.
Online payment is available at all hours through webpay.courts.state.mn.us. Enter your case or citation number, pay by credit or debit card, and get instant confirmation.
Your payment posts to the case file within one business day. Online is usually fastest. You also have the option to pay at mncourts.gov/pay-a-fine.
By phone: (651) 281-3219 or toll-free (800) 657-3611. By mail: Court Payment Center, P.O. Box 898, Willmar, MN 56201. Write your case number on the check or money order. Do not send cash.
If you cannot pay in full, contact the Violations Bureau or the court clerk to ask about a payment plan. Hennepin County has options for financial hardship in some cases. You can also ask whether a community service option applies to your citation type.
Traffic Laws and Penalties
All Minnesota traffic statutes apply in Hennepin County. Speed limits are in Minn. Stat. 169.14. Reckless and careless driving fall under Minn. Stat. 169.13. The texting law, Minn. Stat. 169.475, carries a fine around $135. Seat belt violations are in Minn. Stat. 169.686. Penalty levels for petty misdemeanors are set in Minn. Stat. 169.89. Driving after suspension can cost near $278 under Minn. Stat. 171.24.
The state's point-based suspension system applies here. Four moving violations in 12 months: 30-day suspension. Five in 12 months: 90-day suspension. Eight or more in any 24-month window: one year off the road. In a county as large as Hennepin, with busy highways, constant traffic enforcement, and multiple police agencies patrolling, points can accumulate faster than drivers expect.
The courts' traffic help section at mncourts.gov/help-topics/traffic-issues covers your options in plain terms.
Contesting a Citation
You have 30 days to respond. To contest, check "not guilty" on the citation return stub and mail or deliver it to the court, or call 612-348-6000 to schedule a hearing. If you want a video hearing, request one at the Government Center location. Hearings are available by appointment and walk-in.
At a contested hearing before a Hearing Officer or judge, you can present evidence and question the officer who cited you. If you win, the citation is dismissed. If you lose, you pay the fine. Some petty misdemeanor citations allow a driver improvement course instead of a contested hearing. The Violations Bureau can tell you if your case qualifies. Missing the 30-day response window results in a default judgment and can trigger a license suspension from DVS.
Cities in Hennepin County
Several major cities in Hennepin County have their own traffic records pages.
Nearby Counties
Hennepin County is bordered by these counties in the Twin Cities metro and surrounding region.