Swift County Traffic Records

Swift County traffic court records are handled through the 8th Judicial District Court in Benson, Minnesota. This page helps you search for traffic citations, check case status, pay fines, and understand your options after receiving a ticket in Swift County. The court in Benson processes all traffic cases filed in the county, including citations on U.S. Highway 12, Minnesota Highway 29, and county roads throughout the area.

Swift County District Court

The Swift County District Court is part of the 8th Judicial District, which covers west-central and northwestern Minnesota. The Benson courthouse handles all traffic matters filed in Swift County -- from payable citations you can resolve by mail to contested hearings before a judge. Court staff can answer basic questions about your case and let you know what comes next.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Free surface lot parking and on-street parking are both available near the courthouse. If you plan to visit in person to pay a fine or ask about a case, arrive before 4:30 p.m. Staff cannot handle payments or questions after closing time.

Swift County does not have hearing officers. If you want to contest a citation, you will go before a judge. Call the court at (320) 843-2744 to request a date. Do it before the 30-day response window closes. Don't wait until the last day -- scheduling can take a couple of days and you don't want to miss the window.

The Swift County District Court page on the Minnesota Judicial Branch website lists current contact information and court calendar access. Check it before you visit to confirm nothing has changed.

The screenshot below shows the Swift County court information page on the Minnesota Judicial Branch website.

Check the court page for current hours and contact details before making the drive to Benson.

Searching Traffic Records in Swift County

Minnesota Courts Records Online -- known as MCRO -- is the free statewide system for looking up court case records. You can search by name, case number, or citation number. MCRO covers all 87 Minnesota counties including Swift, and it is available at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us. No login or account is required, and there is no fee to search.

One limit to know: pre-conviction cases are not available through MCRO. If your citation has not yet been resolved -- no plea, no judgment -- it will not show up in the public search results. For a pending case, call the Swift County courthouse at (320) 843-2744 directly. Staff can tell you the current status. Once a case is decided, it becomes part of the public record and is searchable through MCRO. The system updates hourly during business hours.

If you need a certified copy of a court record, you must request it in person or by mail through the court clerk. MCRO is a read-only system -- it shows case information but does not allow document filings or fine payments. Public access computers at the courthouse also let you run MCRO searches on-site without using your own device.

The image below shows the MCRO public access search portal used to look up Swift County traffic case records.

Searches on MCRO are free and no login is needed.

Paying Traffic Fines in Swift County

Swift County traffic fines can be paid online, by phone, by mail, or in person at the Benson courthouse. The state's online payment portal is at webpay.courts.state.mn.us. There is a $2.34 convenience fee for online and phone payments. Before you try to pay online, wait at least 7 days after the citation date -- the ticket needs time to be entered into the court system, and the portal will not find it before then.

Phone payments: call (651) 281-3219 (metro) or (800) 657-3611 (toll-free). For mail, make a check or money order payable to the court and send it to: Court Payment Center, P.O. Box 898, Willmar, MN 56201. Write your citation number on the check so the payment goes to the right case. In-person payments are accepted at the Swift County Courthouse during regular business hours.

The 30-day window applies to all Minnesota traffic citations. Pay or respond to the court within 30 days of the citation date. Missing that deadline can result in a default judgment. If your ticket was for no proof of insurance, do not pay it online. Fax proof of coverage to 320-231-6507 first, then contact the court to find out what comes next.

The screenshot below shows the online Court Payment Center portal used to pay Swift County traffic fines.

Save your confirmation number after paying online or by phone.

Your Options After a Citation

When you get a traffic ticket in Swift County, you have a few choices. Pay the fine, which counts as a guilty plea and closes the case. Contest the citation by requesting a court date. Or, for a no-insurance citation, submit proof of coverage and follow up with court staff about next steps. For some minor violations, you may be able to ask about a continuance for dismissal, where the charge can be reduced or dropped if you meet conditions set by the court.

Swift County has no hearing officers. Contesting a citation means you call (320) 843-2744 to set a court date and then appear before a judge. Do it before the 30-day deadline. Even if you plan to plead guilty in the end, it can be worth calling first to ask about options -- some courts allow continuances that are not advertised on the ticket.

For questions about the process, the statewide self-help line is (651) 435-6535. Staff can walk you through what to expect without giving legal advice. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Minnesota Judicial Branch also has a traffic help page at mncourts.gov/help-topics/traffic-issues that covers most situations you might face after getting a ticket.

The image below is from the Minnesota Judicial Branch traffic help page, which covers citation options for all Minnesota counties including Swift.

Visit mncourts.gov/help-topics/traffic-issues for guidance on responding to a traffic citation in Swift County.

Traffic Laws and Penalties in Minnesota

Minnesota groups traffic violations by how serious they are. Most common tickets -- speeding, running a stop sign, improper lane change -- are petty misdemeanors. Under Minnesota Statute 169.89, petty misdemeanor fines top out at $300. Reckless driving is a misdemeanor under Minnesota Statute 169.13, which can bring fines up to $1,000 and up to 90 days in jail. That is a very different level from a simple speeding ticket.

Minnesota Statute 169.14 sets speed limits at 30 mph in urban districts, 55 mph on most roads, 65 mph on expressways, and 70 mph on rural interstates. Going 100 mph or faster triggers an automatic 6-month license revocation -- no court required.

Texting while driving is a primary offense under Minnesota Statute 169.475. Officers can stop you for it alone. The fine runs around $135-$140. Seat belt violations fall under Minnesota Statute 169.686 and are also primary offenses.

Minnesota does not use a point system. Instead, the state tracks conviction counts. Four convictions in 12 months means a 30-day suspension. Five in 12 months brings 90 days. Eight or more in 24 months results in a 1-year suspension. If you need a copy of your driving record, the Department of Vehicle Services charges $9 for a non-certified copy. Use form PS2502 and submit it through the DVS records request page.

Cities in Swift County

Benson is the largest city in Swift County and serves as the county seat where the district court is located. Other communities in the county include Appleton, Kerkhoven, and Holloway. None of these cities meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. All traffic citations issued anywhere in Swift County are handled through the district court in Benson.

Nearby Counties

Swift County borders several other Minnesota counties. If your citation was issued in a neighboring county, use the links below to find the right court.