Getting pulled over sucks, whether it’s for speeding on Highway 49 or rolling through a stop sign in your neighborhood. If you’ve got a court date coming up, here’s what you need to know in plain English
Where are you actually going?
Your ticket will tell you which court to go to, but generally:
- If you got the ticket inside city limits, you’ll go to Municipal Court
- If you got it on county roads or highways outside towns, you’ll go to Justice Court or sometimes County Court
What can you do about it?
You’ve basically got three options:
- Just pay the fine and be done with it
- Plead not guilty and go to court to fight it
- Contest it online through services like Off The Record
But heads up – not all tickets are the same. Some can lead to bigger problems like losing your license, insurance rate hikes, or in really bad cases, jail time.
Don’t ghost your court date
This is super important. If you don’t show up:
- They might hold the trial without you (and you’ll probably lose)
- They’ll send you paperwork about what you owe
- For serious stuff, they might even put out a warrant for your arrest
If you can’t make your court date, call the court ASAP.
Get help from someone who knows the system
Let’s be real – the courts can be confusing and intimidating if you’re not used to them. That’s why having someone in your corner makes such a difference.
Need help with your Mississippi traffic ticket? Christopher Holt Law in Gulfport knows these local courts inside and out. Whether you’re dealing with a simple speeding ticket or something more serious, don’t go through this alone.
Check out Christopher Holt Law or give them a call today. Having a local attorney fight for you can save you money, points on your license, and a whole lot of headaches in the long run.
Headlight bulb went out.
Stopped and issued ticket and court date. Officer stated no find. Had headlight bulb replaced took receipt to county courthouse to show correction made. Met two clerks and no response to my questions and they didn’t even look at work receipt showing light fixed. Court date changed and time on second notification set for 5 pm at closing time.
What can I expect at court?
Hi there — great question, and you’re not alone!
Since you’ve already replaced the headlight and have a receipt showing the repair, that’s an important first step. The clerks you spoke with at the courthouse typically can’t dismiss or resolve tickets — they just handle scheduling and paperwork. The actual decision happens in front of the judge at your court date.
When you go to court, bring your repair receipt and politely explain that you fixed the issue right away after being stopped. Many Mississippi judges will either dismiss the ticket or reduce the fine if you show that the problem was promptly corrected in good faith.
Be on time, dress respectfully, and stay calm when it’s your turn to speak. Simply let the judge know what happened, show your receipt, and ask if the charge can be dismissed or reduced. In most cases like yours, that’s exactly what happens.
Hope this helps you feel more confident about what to expect!