Stearns County Traffic Records
Stearns County traffic court records are handled through the 7th Judicial District Court in St. Cloud, Minnesota. All traffic citations issued in the county are processed at the Stearns County Courthouse, from citations on Interstate 94 to local road violations. This page covers how to search records, pay a fine, look up fine amounts, and understand your options after a traffic citation in Stearns County.
Stearns County Overview
Stearns County District Court
The Stearns County District Court is part of the 7th Judicial District, which covers central Minnesota. Stearns County is the most populous county in this district, and the St. Cloud courthouse handles a high volume of traffic cases. Citations from Interstate 94, U.S. Highway 10, State Highway 15, and dozens of county roads and city streets all go through this location. The courthouse sits at Courthouse Square in St. Cloud.
The court is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Parking is free, with a surface lot and on-street options near the building. If you have questions about a citation or need to set a hearing date, call (320) 656-3620. The St. Cloud courthouse serves a large and busy county, so it helps to have your citation number or case number ready when you contact them.
Stearns County does not have hearing officers. If you want to contest a citation, your case goes before a district court judge. You must contact the court and request a hearing within 30 days of the citation date. Missing that deadline can lead to a default judgment against you. Act early so you do not run out of time. For St. Cloud traffic citations specifically, the St. Cloud city page has additional local resources.
| Court | Stearns County District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | Stearns County Courthouse, 725 Courthouse Square, St. Cloud, MN 56303 |
| Phone | (320) 656-3620 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. |
| Parking | Free surface lot and on-street parking |
| Website | mncourts.gov/find-courts/stearns |
The screenshot below shows the Stearns County court information page on the Minnesota Judicial Branch website.
Check the Stearns County court page before visiting to confirm current hours and contact information.
Searching Traffic Records in Stearns County
Minnesota Courts Records Online, MCRO, is the free statewide system for looking up court records. Search Stearns County traffic cases by name, case number, or citation number at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us. No account or login is needed. MCRO covers all 87 Minnesota counties including Stearns.
MCRO does not include pre-conviction cases. If your citation has not been resolved yet, it will not appear in the online results. For status on a pending case, call the courthouse at (320) 656-3620. Once a case is resolved, it becomes part of the public record and can be searched through MCRO. The system updates regularly during business hours.
Certified copies of records must be requested from the court clerk in person or by mail. The courthouse also has public-access computers where you can search records on-site. MCRO is read-only -- you can look up records but cannot pay fines or submit documents through it.
The image below shows the MCRO public access portal used to look up Stearns County traffic court records.
Searches through MCRO are free. No login required.
Note: Pre-conviction cases are not available through MCRO -- call the Stearns County courthouse at (320) 656-3620 for status on a pending case.
Paying Traffic Fines in Stearns County
Stearns County traffic fines can be paid online, by phone, by mail, or in person at the St. Cloud courthouse. The online portal is at webpay.courts.state.mn.us. A $2.34 convenience fee applies to online and phone payments. Wait at least 7 days after the citation date before trying to pay online -- the ticket needs time to be entered into the court system.
Phone payments are handled by calling (651) 281-3219 in the metro area or (800) 657-3611 toll-free. To pay by mail, send a check or money order payable to the court to: Court Payment Center, P.O. Box 898, Willmar, MN 56201. Include your citation number on the payment. In-person payments are accepted at the Courthouse Square location during regular hours. No convenience fee applies for in-person payments.
Stearns County publishes a list of common traffic violation fine amounts on its website. If you want to check what a specific citation is likely to cost before paying, you can visit the Stearns County fines and tickets page. This can help you plan before you pay or decide whether to contest.
The 30-day deadline applies here as in all Minnesota counties. Pay or contact the court within 30 days of the citation date. Ignoring the deadline can lead to a default judgment. If your ticket was for no insurance, do not pay online first -- contact the court about submitting proof of coverage. Fax insurance documents to (320) 231-6507.
The image below shows the Stearns County fines and tickets page, which lists common traffic violation fine amounts.
Visit stearnscountymn.gov/332/Fines-Tickets to look up common fine amounts for traffic violations in Stearns County.
Contesting a Citation in Stearns County
To fight a traffic ticket in Stearns County, call (320) 656-3620 and ask for a hearing date. There are no hearing officers here -- contested cases go before a district court judge. Make that call within 30 days of your citation date.
Most traffic violations in Minnesota are petty misdemeanors. Under Minnesota Statute 169.89, a petty misdemeanor fine can be up to $300. Reckless driving is a misdemeanor under Minnesota Statute 169.13 -- fines up to $1,000 and possible jail time up to 90 days. If your citation is for a serious violation, talking to an attorney before you decide what to do is a reasonable step.
The self-help line at (651) 435-6535 is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Staff can explain your options. More guidance is at mncourts.gov/help-topics/traffic-issues.
Note: Stearns County has no hearing officers -- call (320) 656-3620 to request a judge hearing if you want to contest your citation.
Traffic Laws and Penalties in Minnesota
Minnesota ranks traffic violations by how serious they are. Standard offenses like moderate speeding or rolling a stop sign are petty misdemeanors with fines up to $300. 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. Going 100 mph or faster triggers a mandatory 6-month license revocation.
Texting while driving is a primary offense under Minnesota Statute 169.475. Officers can pull you over for it on its own. The fine runs about $135 to $140. Seat belt violations are also primary offenses under Minnesota Statute 169.686.
Minnesota does not use a points system. The state counts convictions. Four in 12 months triggers a 30-day suspension. Five in 12 months means 90 days. Eight or more in any 24-month period can bring a 1-year suspension. To request a copy of your driving record, the DVS charges $9 for a non-certified copy. Use form PS2502 and submit through the DVS records request page.
Cities in Stearns County
St. Cloud is the county seat of Stearns County and the location of the district courthouse. St. Cloud has a dedicated page on this site: St. Cloud Traffic Court Records. Other communities in Stearns County include Waite Park, Sartell, Sauk Rapids, and St. Joseph. None of the smaller cities meet the population threshold for their own page. All citations issued in Stearns County outside of St. Cloud are also processed at the Stearns County Courthouse in St. Cloud.
Nearby Counties
Stearns County is in central Minnesota and borders several other counties. If your citation was issued in a neighboring county, use the links below to find the right court.