Hoover Traffic Court Lookup
Traffic court records for Hoover are processed through Hoover Municipal Court, located on Valleydale Road in the southern part of the city. The court handles all traffic violations and misdemeanors occurring within Hoover city limits. Hoover is one of the largest suburbs in the Birmingham metro area with a population over 93,000. The city spans both Jefferson and Shelby counties, which makes its municipal court somewhat unique. Hoover Municipal Court acts as a filtration system for misdemeanor traffic offenses that would otherwise go to Jefferson County courts. For citations issued by Jefferson County or Shelby County Sheriff's deputies or Alabama State Troopers, those cases are handled by the respective county district courts. The municipal court offers online payment and mail-in payment options for most traffic violations.
Hoover Quick Facts
Hoover Municipal Court
Hoover Municipal Court hears violations and misdemeanors only. It takes traffic tickets and city code issues that happen in Hoover. Think of it as a first stop before cases move to Jefferson County courts. The court sits on Valleydale Road and sees a lot of cases from this busy suburb.
| Address | 2020 Valleydale Road Hoover, AL 35244 |
|---|---|
| Website | hooveralabama.gov/Municipal-Court |
Two-County Jurisdiction
Hoover sits in both Jefferson County and Shelby County. That can make things confusing. Your traffic case could land in either county's court system based on where you got the ticket and who wrote it. If a county deputy or state trooper cited you, check the ticket to see which county you deal with. City cop tickets go to municipal court no matter which part of Hoover you were in.
How to Pay Traffic Tickets
Online Payment
Pay your ticket on the city's online portal. Cards work. A fee gets tacked on. But know this: paying online means you plead guilty. You can not fight it or ask for driving school after that.
Mail Payment
Send payment by mail to:
Hoover Municipal Court
2020 Valleydale Road
Hoover, AL 35244
Send a copy of your ticket with your payment. Use a money order or cashier's check. No personal checks.
Payment Deadline
Pay at least 24 hours before court. Postmarks do not count. The court needs your money in hand. Mail early so it gets there in time. Do not cut it close or you might end up with more fees or a missed court date.
Statewide Online System
The Alabama Online Traffic Resolution system also allows searching and paying citations from Hoover courts using your citation number and date of birth.
Fees and Fines
Traffic Violation Fines
Fines in Hoover change based on what you did. Here is what most folks pay:
| 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 |
Fines include court costs. Pay late and fees add up. Miss court and it gets worse. DUI and reckless driving cost way more, and you have to show up in court for those.
Legal Framework
Hoover Municipal Court runs under Code of Alabama Sections 12-14-1 through 12-14-70. These laws let the court hear city code and state traffic cases in Hoover.
Traffic tickets in Alabama are misdemeanors per Title 32 of the Code of Alabama. The judge can fine you up to $500. Jail can hit six months. Big crimes go higher.
Appeals usually go to Jefferson County Circuit Court. But if your ticket came from the Shelby County part of Hoover, you may appeal to Shelby County Circuit Court instead. You have 14 days to file after conviction. Miss that and you are stuck with the ruling.
Traffic court records are public records under Section 36-12-40 and can be accessed through public records requests to the court clerk.
County Courts
Hoover sits in two counties. So tickets from county deputies or state troopers could go to either Jefferson County or Shelby County courts. Check your ticket to see which one applies to you.
Jefferson County Circuit Clerk (Birmingham Division)
| Phone | (205) 325-5355 |
|---|---|
| Website | jefferson.alacourt.gov |
View Jefferson County Traffic Court
Shelby County Circuit Clerk
| Website | shelby.alacourt.gov |
|---|
Legal Resources
Legal Services Alabama - Birmingham Office
Legal Services Alabama gives free legal help if you do not make much money. The Birmingham office helps folks in the Hoover area. Call their intake line to see if you qualify.
- Intake Line: 1-866-456-4995
Birmingham Bar Association
Need a lawyer? The Birmingham Bar Association runs a referral line. They link you with local attorneys who take traffic cases. A paid lawyer can stand up for you and may cut your fines or keep points off your record.
Alabama State Bar
The Alabama State Bar helps you find legal help across the state. Their site has a list of lawyers by what they do and where they are. You can search for traffic court attorneys in the Birmingham area. Some offer free first talks to see if they can help you.
Nearby Cities
Each city runs its own court. Here are big cities near Hoover:
Other nearby cities with municipal courts include Vestavia Hills, Homewood, Mountain Brook, Pelham, Helena, Alabaster, and Bessemer. Each city runs its own court and handles tickets from its own police. If you got a ticket in one of those places, do not go to Hoover court. Find out which city wrote your ticket and call that city's court. The rules, fees, and due dates may be different from city to city. Also watch out for where the ticket was issued since the Hoover area has a lot of overlapping jurisdictions.
Jefferson and Shelby Counties
Hoover sits in two counties. Most of the city is in Jefferson County, but a good chunk is in Shelby County. If a county or state cop gave you a ticket, check which county to deal with: