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| When is my Court date? |
| How much is the fine amount? |
| What charges do I face? |
| How do I get to the courthouse? |
| How can I pay my fine, so I do not have to go to court? |
| What cases are heard at Recorder’s Court? |
| How can I get my license back? |
| I have missed my court date, so what do I do? |
| How can I have my court date changed? |
| May I appeal the decision of the Recorder’s Court of Dekalb County? |
| How do I start the appeal process? |
| What is the amount of the Appeal Bond? |
| How do I complete my appeal after I pay the Appeal Bond? |
| How long do I have to appeal? |
| What happens if I miss a step or a deadline? |
| |
| Q. When is my Court date? |
| A. If you look on your citation, in the middle section,
it lists the date and time that you must appear in court. If you cannot read
the officer's writing or you have lost your citation, you may contact the Court
directly to get your Court date. However, you will need to provide your full
name and your address (as they appear on your driver’s license) and your
date of birth. |
| Q. How much is the fine amount? |
| A. You must allow two (2) weeks to pass after you received your
citation, and then you may contact the Court directly to get your fine amount. However,
some citations require a Court appearance and may not be paid prior to Court. To determine
whether you may simple pay a fine, without attending Court, you will need to provide your
full name and your address (as they appear on your driver’s license and/or the County land
records) and your date of birth. |
| Q. What charges do I face? |
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| A.If you look on your citation, in the middle section, it lists the
violation you allegedly committed. If you cannot read the officer's writing or you have
lost your citation, you may contact the Court directly to get your Court date. However,
you will need to provide your full name and your address (as they appear on your driver’s
license) and your date of birth. If you do not understand what the violation means, you
may want to contact a lawyer to explain the charges to you. |
| Q. How do I get to the courthouse? |
| A. Take exit 41 (Memorial Drive) from I-285 and go west (inside I-285)
on Memorial Drive one block and turn left at the first traffic light just before the jail on
Camp Rd. Proceed one block. Visitor parking is on your right and our building is adjacent
on the left. |
| Q. How can I pay my fine, so I do not have to go to court? |
| A. Prior to the court date, you must submit payment to the Court in a
form that is acceptable and proper. The choices are as follows: (1) You may pay in cash at
the courthouse during normal hours. (2) You may pay via MasterCard or Visa credit card using
the automated telephone system at 404-371-3272. or (3) You may pay by cashier's check or
money order in the drop box to the far right of the main entrance at the courthouse or
through the mail. Your payment must be for the full amount and made payable to "Dekalb
County Recorders Court", with your name, address and citation number listed on the face
of the check or money order. In addition, please include the signed "waiver of personal
appearance" portion of your citation with your payment. If you use the drop box or mail
and wish to obtain a receipt, you must include a self addressed stamped envelope with your
payment. Mailed payments must be postmarked prior to your court date. Please note that
personal or company checks are not acceptable and cash may not be mailed or placed in the
drop box. If you mistakenly mail cash or place it in the drop box, you may not be credited
for it or reimbursed. Once your courdate arrives or has passed, you cannot simply pay the
fine amount, without attending Court. |
| Q. What cases are heard at Recorder’s Court? |
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| A.The Recorders Court adjudicates traffic citations alleged DeKalb
County Code violations. These matters include citations that are written by the DeKalb
County Police Department, Dekalb County Sheriff’s Department, Georgia Department of Motor
Vehicle Safety, Depart of Transportation and Georgia State Patrol, Dekalb County Animal
Control, the Planning and Zoning/Inspection Department, the Sanitation Department, the
Business License Department, the Environmental Health Department, MARTA Police Department,
Emory University and the Dekalb County Board of Education. |
| Q. How can I get my license back? |
| A. All drivers’ license suspensions are handled by the Georgia
Department of Motor Vehicle Safety. The telephone number for the Georgia DMVS is
678-413-8400. Please contact them directly. |
| Q. I have missed my court date, so what do I do? |
| A. If your court date has already passed, you must speak with a
Recorder's Court operator at 404-508-0368 Monday – Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. |
| Q. How can I have my court date changed? |
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| A. Court dates may be rescheduled at the discretion of a judge and
generally are rescheduled for only legitimate legal or business conflicts or for medical
emergencies. All requests must be submitted in writing and delivered to the court at
least seven (7) days prior to the scheduled court date. It may help if you provide written
verification from either your employer or your physician to support your request. Attorneys
should submit a standard conflict letter. All requests are subject to approval. If you are
not sure what to do or how to do it, you may want to obtain the advice of an attorney. |
| Q. May I appeal the decision of the Recorder’s Court of DeKalb County? |
| A. Yes, you may appeal to the Superior Court of DeKalb County. |
| Q. How do I start the appeal process? |
| A. First, you must file an “Appeal Bond” with the Recorder’s Court. |
| Q. What is the amount of the Appeal Bond? |
| A. The amount of that bond will be determined and set by a
Judge from the Recorder’s Court. You may contact the Court to determine the amount. |
| Q. How do I complete my appeal after I pay the Appeal Bond? |
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| A. The remaining steps of the appeal process include various
technical requirements, including but not limited to filing certain documents and
delivering copies to the appropriate parties. Accordingly, you may want to seek
the assistance of an attorney to guide you through the process. |
| Q. How long do I have to appeal? |
| A. You have thirty (30) days. |
| Q. What happens if I miss a step or a deadline? |
| A. Your attempted appeal may be dismissed due to a
failure to comply with each technical requirement, including but not limited
to the timeliness of certain actions and the delivery of the appropriate copies
to the appropriate parties. |
1One may argue that these questions constitute a request
for a legal opinion and/or advice. The information contained herein
is merely general information and not intended to provide legal
advice. This document is in no way intended to provide legal advice
and the Recorder’s Court does not provide such advice. |