Birmingham Traffic Court Records
Traffic court records for citations issued by Birmingham Police are handled by Birmingham Municipal Court. The court has jurisdiction over all traffic violations occurring within city limits, including moving violations, parking tickets, and city ordinance infractions. Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama with a population over 196,000. The municipal court operates out of the Birmingham Municipal Court Building on 17th Street North. For traffic citations issued by Jefferson County Sheriff's deputies or Alabama State Troopers within Birmingham, those cases are processed through Jefferson County District Court instead. The municipal court provides several options for resolving traffic citations including online payment, in-person payment, and court appearances.
Birmingham Quick Facts
Birmingham Municipal Court
Birmingham Municipal Court deals with all traffic cases from Birmingham Police. The court sees thousands of cases each year. Staff can help you find out what you owe, when you need to show up, and how to pay. If you got a ticket from a city cop in Birmingham, this is where your case goes. The court sits on 17th Street North and runs five days a week. You can walk in to pay or ask questions during business hours. Most folks want to just pay and move on, but you can also fight your ticket if you think it was wrong.
| Address | 801 17th Street North Birmingham, AL 35203 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (205) 254-2161 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Payment Hours | Monday - Friday, 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Website | birminghamal.gov/municipal-court |
Court Sessions
Arraignments run Monday through Friday at 9:00 AM and 1:30 PM. Show up at the time on your ticket. Get there early to check in. The court fills up fast, so plan ahead. If you come late, you may miss your slot. Bring your citation with you since staff will need to see it. Dress right for court and leave your phone on mute. The judge runs a tight ship, so be set to wait a bit if there are lots of cases that day. If you have a lawyer, they can show up for some parts on your behalf.
How to Pay Traffic Tickets
Online Payment
Pay your ticket at birminghamal.gov/eservices. They take cards. A small fee gets tacked on. But here is the catch: if you got two or more traffic convictions in the past year, you can not pay online for moving violations. That is state law under Section 13A-10-109. You will have to go to court instead.
In-Person Payment
Go to the court at 801 17th Street North. Hours run 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM on weekdays. Bring cash, a money order, or a cashier's check. No personal checks allowed.
Mail Payment
Mail payment to:
Birmingham Municipal Court
801 17th Street North
Birmingham, AL 35203
Include a copy of the citation and payment by money order or cashier's check payable to "City of Birmingham."
Statewide Online System
The Alabama Online Traffic Resolution system also allows searching and paying citations from Birmingham courts using citation number and date of birth.
Fees and Fines
Traffic Violation Fines
Fines in Birmingham change based on what you did wrong. Here is what most folks end up paying:
| Violation | Typical Fine Range |
|---|---|
| Speeding (1-25 mph over) | $190 - $280 |
| Speeding (26+ mph over) | $280 - $350 |
| Running red light | $180 - $250 |
| Stop sign violation | $160 - $220 |
| Failure to yield | $180 - $250 |
| Improper lane change | $150 - $200 |
These fines include court costs. Pay late and you pay more. Skip court and things get worse. DUI and reckless driving cost a lot more and can land you in jail.
Payment Restrictions
Got two or more tickets in the last year? You must show up in court. State law says so. It is in Section 13A-10-109 of the Code of Alabama. The online pay option will not work for you. This rule is meant to flag folks who get a lot of tickets. The judge wants to see you face to face at that point. So plan to take time off work or find someone to drive you there. The court will not bend this rule, and trying to pay online will just cause more hassle down the line.
Legal Framework
Birmingham Municipal Court runs under Code of Alabama Sections 12-14-1 through 12-14-70. These laws let the court hear cases about city rules and state traffic laws when they happen in the city.
Most traffic violations in Alabama are misdemeanors. That is what Section 32-5A-8 says. The judge can fine you up to $500. Jail time can hit six months for most cases. DUI fines and jail time go much higher.
Want to appeal? File with Jefferson County Circuit Court. You have just 14 days after your conviction. Miss that window and you are stuck with the ruling. The 10th Judicial Circuit handles all Birmingham appeals, so get your paperwork in fast.
Traffic court records are public records under Section 36-12-40 and can be accessed through public records requests.
Jefferson County District Court
Got a ticket from a county deputy or state trooper in Birmingham? Your case goes to Jefferson County District Court. The city court will not touch it. This trips up a lot of folks who think all Birmingham tickets go to the same place, but they do not. Check who wrote your ticket to know where to go.
| Address | 716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd N Birmingham, AL 35203 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (205) 325-5355 |
| Website | jefferson.alacourt.gov |
Legal Resources
Legal Services Alabama - Birmingham Office
Legal Services Alabama gives free legal help to folks who do not make much money. If you qualify, the Birmingham office can walk you through traffic court stuff and help you know your rights.
- Intake Line: 1-866-456-4995
Birmingham Bar Association
Need a lawyer? The Birmingham Bar Association runs a referral service. Call them and they will match you with a local attorney who handles traffic cases. You will have to pay for their help, but a good lawyer can sometimes get charges dropped or fines cut.
Alabama State Bar
The Alabama State Bar provides resources for finding legal assistance throughout the state.
Nearby Cities
Got a ticket in another city? Each city runs its own court. Nearby Hoover has its own municipal court:
Other nearby cities with municipal courts include Vestavia Hills, Homewood, Mountain Brook, Bessemer, Trussville, Gardendale, Center Point, Hueytown, Irondale, and Leeds. Each of these smaller cities runs its own court system. If you got a ticket in one of those places, do not go to Birmingham court. Find out which city issued your ticket and contact that city's court instead. The rules, fees, and payment options may be different from place to place.
Jefferson County
Birmingham sits in Jefferson County. It is also the county seat. If a county cop or state trooper wrote your ticket, you deal with the county court, not the city court: