St. Louis County Traffic Court Records
St. Louis County traffic court records are handled through the 6th Judicial District Court, with the main courthouse in Duluth, Minnesota. As the largest county in Minnesota by area, St. Louis County operates three courthouse locations -- Duluth, Hibbing, and Virginia -- to serve a wide geographic area. This page helps you find traffic citations, check case status, pay fines, and understand your options after receiving a ticket anywhere in the county.
St. Louis County Overview
St. Louis County District Court
The St. Louis County District Court is part of the 6th Judicial District. It is the court with the widest geographic reach in Minnesota, covering the largest county by area in the state. The court handles all traffic cases filed in St. Louis County. That includes citations on Interstate 35, U.S. Highway 53, U.S. Highway 2, and county roads across a very large stretch of northeastern Minnesota.
Because of the county's size, there are three courthouse locations. The main courthouse is in Duluth at 1001 E Central Entrance. Additional locations operate in Hibbing and Virginia. If you received a citation and are not sure which courthouse handles your case, call the main Duluth number at (218) 726-2460 and staff can direct you.
Court hours at the main Duluth location run Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If you plan to come in to pay or ask about a case, arrive before closing. St. Louis County does not have hearing officers. If you want to contest a citation, you will need to request a court date and appear before a judge.
| Court | St. Louis County District Court |
|---|---|
| Main Address | 1001 E Central Entrance, Duluth, MN 55811 |
| Phone | (218) 726-2460 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. |
| Additional Locations | Hibbing Courthouse; Virginia Courthouse |
| Website | mncourts.gov/find-courts/st-louis |
The St. Louis County District Court page on the Minnesota Judicial Branch website lists current information for all three courthouse locations, including addresses, phone numbers, and court calendar access.
Searching Traffic Records in St. Louis County
Minnesota Courts Records Online, or MCRO, is the free statewide tool for looking up court case records. You can search by name, case number, or citation number. Access the system at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us. No login or account is needed, and the search is free.
There is one key limit. MCRO only shows post-conviction records. If your case has not yet been decided, it will not appear in the system. For pending case information, call the main Duluth courthouse at (218) 726-2460 or visit in person. Resolved cases are available online and the system updates hourly during business hours.
If you need certified copies of records, you must request them from the court clerk, either in person or by mail. MCRO is read-only and does not accept document submissions or payments. For copies, contact the St. Louis County clerk's office at the appropriate courthouse location.
The image below shows the MCRO public access portal, which you can use to search St. Louis County traffic records at no cost.
MCRO is free, requires no login, and covers all Minnesota counties including St. Louis.
Note: Pre-conviction cases are not available through MCRO -- call the Duluth courthouse at (218) 726-2460 for pending case information.
Paying Traffic Fines in St. Louis County
If you have a payable traffic citation from St. Louis County, you can pay online, by phone, by mail, or in person at any of the three courthouse locations. Online payments go through webpay.courts.state.mn.us. A $2.34 convenience fee applies for online and phone payments. You need to wait at least 7 days after your citation date before the online system will accept payment, since it takes time for the ticket to be entered.
For phone payments, call the Court Payment Center at (651) 281-3219 (metro) or (800) 657-3611 (toll-free). For mail, send your payment to: Court Payment Center, P.O. Box 898, Willmar, MN 56201. Include your citation number on the check or money order so the payment reaches the right case.
You have 30 days from the date of the citation to respond -- pay or contest. If your citation was for no proof of insurance, do not pay online. Fax proof of insurance to 320-231-6507 first, then follow up with court staff to confirm the next step.
The screenshot below shows the state's Court Payment Center portal, which handles online fine payments for St. Louis County traffic citations.
Keep your confirmation number after paying online or by phone in case any issue comes up later.
Your Options After Getting a Citation in St. Louis County
After receiving a traffic ticket anywhere in St. Louis County, your main options are: pay the fine, contest the citation, or -- if the ticket was for no insurance -- submit proof of coverage. Paying is the fastest option for minor violations. Contesting means requesting a court date and appearing before a judge, since St. Louis County has no hearing officers.
Most traffic violations are petty misdemeanors with fines capped at $300 under Minnesota Statute 169.89. Reckless driving is a misdemeanor under Minnesota Statute 169.13, which can result in fines up to $1,000 and up to 90 days in jail. Knowing the level of your violation helps you decide how to respond.
For guidance, call the statewide self-help line at (651) 435-6535, available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Staff can explain the process without giving legal advice.
The image below is from the Minnesota Judicial Branch traffic help page, which explains citation options for all Minnesota counties including St. Louis.
Visit mncourts.gov/help-topics/traffic-issues for a full overview of your options after receiving a citation.
Note: St. Louis County has no hearing officers -- to contest a citation, call (218) 726-2460 to request a court date before the 30-day deadline.
Traffic Violations and Penalties
Speed limits in Minnesota are set by Minnesota Statute 169.14: 30 mph in urban areas, 55 mph on most roads, 65 mph on expressways, and 70 mph on rural interstates. Driving at 100 mph or faster results in an automatic 6-month license revocation. St. Louis County has extensive highway mileage including stretches of I-35, U.S. 53, and U.S. 2 where speed is actively enforced.
Texting while driving is a primary offense under Minnesota Statute 169.475, with fines around $135 to $140. Seat belt violations are a primary offense under Minnesota Statute 169.686. Officers can pull you over for either of these without needing another reason.
Minnesota tracks conviction counts rather than using a points system. Four convictions in 12 months leads to a 30-day license suspension. Five in 12 months is 90 days. Eight or more in 24 months means a 1-year suspension. Driver records cost $9 for a non-certified copy and can be ordered via form PS2502 through the DVS records request page.
Cities in St. Louis County
St. Louis County is home to Duluth, the largest city in northeastern Minnesota and the county seat. Duluth has its own dedicated page with city-specific court and records information. Other communities in the county include Hibbing, Virginia, Eveleth, Cloquet, and Chisholm. Citations issued anywhere in St. Louis County are handled through the 6th Judicial District Court, with cases assigned to the Duluth, Hibbing, or Virginia courthouse depending on where the violation occurred.
Nearby Counties
St. Louis County borders several other Minnesota counties. If your citation came from a neighboring county, use the links below to find the right court.