Pope County Traffic Records
Pope County traffic court records are handled through the 8th Judicial District Court in Glenwood, Minnesota. This page helps you search for citations, check case status, pay a fine, or learn what to do after receiving a ticket in Pope County. All traffic matters filed in this county are processed through the district court regardless of whether you plan to pay or contest.
Pope County Overview
Pope County District Court
The Pope County District Court sits within the 8th Judicial District, which covers west-central Minnesota. The court handles all traffic cases filed in Pope County, including payable citations and contested matters that go before a judge. The courthouse is located in Glenwood, which serves as the county seat.
The court calendar is posted each business day at 7:00 a.m. and updated on an hourly basis. If your case is listed, a hearing has been scheduled. Confidential cases do not appear in the online calendar. Call the court if you need information on a confidential matter. Pope County does not have hearing officers, so anyone who wishes to fight a citation will need to request a court date and appear before a judge.
Free surface lot parking is available near the Pope County courthouse in Glenwood. Plan to arrive before 4:30 p.m. on weekdays for in-person business. Court staff can answer questions about your case and direct you to the right process for paying or contesting a citation.
| Court | Pope County District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 130 E Minnesota Ave, Glenwood, MN 56334 |
| Phone | (320) 634-5678 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. |
| Website | mncourts.gov/find-courts/pope |
The Pope County District Court page on the Minnesota Judicial Branch website has current contact information and local rules. Check it before coming in to make sure hours have not changed.
The screenshot below shows the Pope County court information page on the Minnesota Judicial Branch website, which lists current contact and calendar details.
Confirm phone numbers and hours on the court page before making an in-person visit to Glenwood.
Searching Traffic Records in Pope County
Minnesota Courts Records Online, called MCRO, lets you search court case records for free. You can look up cases by name, citation number, or case number. The system covers all Minnesota counties including Pope. Go to publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us to start. No login is needed.
One important limit: pre-conviction traffic cases are not shown in MCRO. If your citation is still open -- meaning the case has not been decided -- the online system will not have it. To find out about a pending case, call the Pope County courthouse at (320) 634-5678 or come in during office hours. Once a case is resolved, it moves into the MCRO system and updates hourly during business hours.
Public terminals at the courthouse let you search court records on-site if you prefer to look in person. Certified copies must be obtained through the court clerk. MCRO is read-only and does not support filing documents or making payments.
The image below shows the MCRO public access search portal used for Pope County traffic record lookups.
MCRO is free to use and does not require account registration.
Note: Pre-conviction cases are not in MCRO -- call the Pope County courthouse at (320) 634-5678 for information on any open traffic matters.
Paying Traffic Fines in Pope County
You can pay a Pope County traffic fine online, by phone, by mail, or in person. Online payments go through webpay.courts.state.mn.us. A $2.34 convenience fee applies to online and phone transactions. Wait at least 7 days after your citation date before trying to pay online -- it takes several days for a ticket to show up in the payment system.
Phone payments are handled through the Court Payment Center at (651) 281-3219 or toll-free at (800) 657-3611. To pay by mail, send your check or money order to: Court Payment Center, P.O. Box 898, Willmar, MN 56201. Put your citation number on the check to make sure the payment is matched to your case. In-person payments are accepted at the Glenwood courthouse during regular business hours.
You have 30 days from your citation date to respond. If you do not pay or contact the court to contest within that time, a default judgment may be entered against you. For no-insurance citations, skip the online payment and fax proof of coverage to 320-231-6507 first. Then call the court for direction on what to do next.
The screenshot below shows the Court Payment Center portal used to pay Pope County traffic fines online.
Keep your confirmation number after paying by phone or online.
Your Options After Getting a Citation in Pope County
Getting a traffic ticket in Pope County puts you at a decision point. You can pay the fine, which acts as a guilty plea and ends the case. You can contest the citation and go before a judge. Or, if the ticket relates to no insurance, you can submit proof of coverage and then follow up with the court.
There are no hearing officers in Pope County. If you contest a ticket, you go straight to a judge. Call the court to set a date before your 30 days run out. Most violations in Minnesota are petty misdemeanors. Under Minnesota Statute 169.89, the maximum fine for a petty misdemeanor is $300. More serious matters, like reckless driving, can be charged as misdemeanors with fines up to $1,000 and the possibility of jail time.
Need help deciding what to do? The statewide self-help line is (651) 435-6535, open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Court staff can explain the steps, though they cannot give legal advice.
The image below is from the Minnesota Judicial Branch traffic help page, which describes the options available to people who receive citations in the state.
Go to mncourts.gov/help-topics/traffic-issues for more detail on your options after receiving a ticket.
Note: Pope County has no hearing officers -- call (320) 634-5678 to request a court date if you want to contest your citation before the 30-day deadline.
Traffic Violations and Penalties
Most traffic violations in Minnesota are petty misdemeanors. This covers speeding, failure to stop, and similar offenses. Minnesota Statute 169.14 sets speed limits at 30 mph in urban areas, 55 mph on most roads, 65 mph on expressways, and 70 mph on rural interstates. Driving 100 mph or faster results in an automatic 6-month license revocation regardless of other penalties.
Texting while driving is a primary offense under Minnesota Statute 169.475 -- you can be stopped for it with no other violation needed. The fine runs around $135 to $140. Seat belt violations are a primary offense under Minnesota Statute 169.686. Reckless driving is a misdemeanor under Minnesota Statute 169.13, which can bring fines up to $1,000 and 90 days in jail.
Minnesota counts convictions rather than using a points system. Four offenses within 12 months triggers a 30-day suspension. Five triggers 90 days. Eight or more in 24 months leads to a 1-year suspension. To get your driving record, go to the DVS records request page. A non-certified copy costs $9 using form PS2502.
Cities in Pope County
Glenwood is the county seat of Pope County and the site of the district courthouse. Other communities in the county include Starbuck, Cyrus, and Villard. None of these cities reach the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. Traffic citations issued anywhere in Pope County are handled through the Pope County District Court in Glenwood.
Nearby Counties
Pope County is bordered by several other counties in west-central Minnesota. If your citation was from a neighboring county, use the links below to find the right court.