Search Huntsville Traffic Court Records
Traffic court records for Huntsville are processed through Huntsville Municipal Court, which handles all traffic violations and misdemeanors that occur within city limits. The court has jurisdiction over citations issued by Huntsville Police Department officers. Huntsville is the largest city in Alabama, with a population exceeding 230,000 residents spread across portions of Madison, Limestone, Marshall, and Morgan counties. The municipal court building sits on Wheeler Avenue in downtown Huntsville. For traffic tickets issued by Madison County Sheriff's deputies or Alabama State Troopers, those cases go to Madison County District Court instead. Most minor traffic violations can be resolved without appearing in court by paying online or by mail before your court date.
Huntsville Quick Facts
Huntsville Municipal Court
Huntsville Municipal Court hears traffic cases, misdemeanors, and city code issues in city limits. The court can hand out up to one year in jail and fines up to $6,000 for some crimes, though most traffic tickets cost way less than that. Thousands of cases come through each year. The court sits on Wheeler Avenue in downtown Huntsville.
| Address | 815 Wheeler Avenue Huntsville, AL 35801 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (256) 427-7810 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Website | huntsvilleal.gov/municipal-courts |
Court Jurisdiction
The court hears misdemeanors, traffic cases, and city code issues that happen in Huntsville. The city spans four counties. But if a city cop wrote your ticket, it goes to municipal court no matter which part of Huntsville you were in. County deputies and state troopers send their cases to county court instead.
How to Pay Traffic Tickets
Online Payment
Pay your ticket through the Alabama Traffic Service Center. A 4% fee gets tacked on. But know this: paying online means you plead guilty. You can not ask for driving school after that. Think it through before you click pay. If you want other choices, do not pay online first.
In-Person Payment
Go to the court at 815 Wheeler Avenue. Hours run 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM on weekdays. They take cash, money orders, and cashier's checks. No personal checks. This works best if you want to ask questions first or find out about driving school before you pay and give up that option.
Mail Payment
Send payment by mail to:
Huntsville Municipal Court
815 Wheeler Avenue
Huntsville, AL 35801
Include a copy of your citation along with payment by money order or cashier's check. Allow enough time for your payment to arrive before your court date.
Statewide Online System
The Alabama Online Traffic Resolution system allows you to search and pay citations from Huntsville courts using your citation number and date of birth.
Fees and Fines
Traffic Violation Fines
Fines in Huntsville depend 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.
Traffic School Option
Most courts let you use driving school once to drop a ticket. Finish the class and your citation may get wiped. But limits apply. Usually you can only do this once every 12 to 24 months. Ask for it before you pay or plead guilty. Once you pay, the school option is gone. So if you think you want to try this route, do not rush to pay your fine online.
Legal Framework
Huntsville 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 Huntsville.
Traffic tickets in Alabama are misdemeanors per Title 32 of the Code of Alabama. Most courts cap fines at $500 and jail at six months. But Huntsville has more power than most. The court can go higher in some cases.
Appeals go to Madison County Circuit Court. You have 14 days to file. The appeal means a new trial in circuit court. They start fresh like the first case never happened.
Traffic court records are public records under Section 36-12-40 and can be accessed through public records requests to the court clerk.
Madison County Circuit Court
Got a ticket from a county deputy or state trooper in Huntsville? That goes to Madison County District Court. The city court does not take those. Check who wrote your ticket to know where to go. The circuit clerk keeps records for county cases.
| Address | 100 Northside Square, Room 217 Huntsville, AL 35801 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (256) 532-3390 |
| Website | madison.alacourt.gov |
Legal Resources
Legal Services Alabama - Huntsville Office
Legal Services Alabama gives free legal help if you do not make much money. The Huntsville office can walk you through traffic court stuff and answer questions about your rights.
- Intake Line: 1-866-456-4995
Madison County Bar Association
Need a lawyer? The Madison County Bar Association runs a referral line. They link you with local attorneys who take traffic cases. A paid lawyer can stand up for you in court and may cut your fines or keep points off your record. It costs money, but results can make it worth it for big tickets.
Alabama State Bar
The Alabama State Bar provides resources for finding legal assistance throughout the state. Their website has a directory of attorneys by practice area and location.
Nearby Cities
Each city runs its own court. Here are big cities near Huntsville:
Other nearby cities with municipal courts include Athens, Florence, Scottsboro, Albertville, and Arab. Each city handles traffic citations issued by its own police department.
Madison County
Huntsville sits mostly in Madison County. It is the county seat. Parts of the city reach into Limestone, Marshall, and Morgan counties too. If a county or state cop gave you a ticket: