 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
||
                 |
|---|
Maple Heights - Mayor's Court
The Mayor’s Court has limited jurisdiction based on geographic location and type of offense.
All offenses must have occurred in the City of Maple Heights, and some charges may not be filed here because of legal exceptions.The court does not handle any civil or small claims matters. Those cases are referred to the Garfield Heights Municipal Court, which also has jurisdiction over certain other criminal and traffic cases.
In some cases a person who receives a traffic ticket may plead guilty and pay the fine without coming to court. This is called “waiving” the charge. The waiver schedule is established below.
Persons who wish to plead not guilty or no contest with an explanation must appear in court before the magistrate. If you were involved in a traffic accident you are also required to appear.
If you plead not guilty, your case will be transferred to Garfield Heights Municipal Court for trial and disposition.
Hours of Operation
The Court is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, except for the following holidays:
Christmas Memorial Day
New Year’s Day July 4th
Martin Luther King Day Labor Day
Good Friday Thanksgiving
Phone number: 216-587-9006
Fax number: 216-587-9047
We are located on the second floor of city hall,
5353 Lee Road, Maple Heights OH 44137
Paying a Parking Ticket
You may pay a parking ticket at the Mayor’s Court in person, by mail, or by dropping the payment in the payment box at city hall. The clerk’s office is open Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The cashiers office is located on the second floor of city hall.
Payments in person may be made by cash, check or credit card. The person making the payments will be given a receipt. Payments may also be put in the drop box located to the right of the door at the City Hall entrance.
Payments must be postmarked/received before the date specified on the ticket. Do not count the weekends or holidays in the 72 hour period.
Unpaid tickets will be subject further penalties.
Paying a Ticket by Waiver
Waiver Requirements:
1. You must have shown the officer your proof of insurance AND HE MUST HAVE CHECKED the proper box on the ticket. If the officer did not check the box as "yes" you must provide the court with your proof of insurance by bringing it in or mailing a copy with your payment. NO INVOICES; insurance must cover the date of offense.
2. Have one of the waiverable offense listed on the chart below.
3. Have had no more than two prior moving violations within the past 12 months.
4. Enter a plea of guilty.
5. Read the ticket carefully, sign the reverse side of the citation and enclose with payment or bring to court with you if paying in person.
6. Have the TOTAL waiver payment to the court before the assigned court date.
Violations which are not waiverable:
1. Third offense with the past 12 months.
2. Operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
3. Leaving the scene of an accident
4. Driving with no license or a suspended license
5. Fleeing or eluding a police officer
6. Drag Racing
7. Passing a stopped school bus
8. Driving with a license expired more than 6 months.
Click here to view the waiver schedule.
Court Costs
Basic Traffic Costs |
||
|---|---|---|
| Moving Violations | Per Case Number |
$105.00 |
| Non moving violations | Per Case Number |
$81.00 |
| Criminal Costs | Per Case Number |
$105.00 |
| Breakdown | Local costs | $51.00 |
| Computer Fund | $10.00 | |
| State of Ohio Funds | $ 34.00* | |
| Cuyahoga County CRIS | $5.00** | |
* No state fees on non-moving violations |
||
** No Cuyahoga CRIS fees on criminal or non-moving violations |
||
Additional Costs |
|
|---|---|
| Arrest Warrant | $25.00 |
| Arrest Pick-up | $50.00 |
| Bond Fee | $10% of total bond |
| Bond Forfeiture | $20.00 |
| Continuance | $10.00 |
| Community Service | $15.00 |
Fail to appear notice or summons |
$15.00 |
License Forfeiture or warrant block |
$40.00 |
| Late Fee | $10.00 |
| Personal Recognizance | $15.00 |
| Returned check | $40.00 |
| Sealing of Record App. | $100.00 |
| Copy per page | $ .05 |
| Certified Copy per page | $1.00 |
Effective 08/01/08. All costs are subject to change.
Expungement
Generally:
Ohio Revised Code 2953.31 provides that a defendant may apply to a court of official record, including the record of arrest in the following criminal circumstances:
1. A conviction, if the defendant is a first offender as defined in O.R.C. 2953.31(A) and the offense that is the subject of the conviction is not prohibited from being expunged and sealed under O.R.C. 2953.36;
2. A verdict or finding of not guilty;
3. A dismissal of a complaint, indictment, or information;
4. A “no bill” entered by the grand jury.
Exclusions:
Under Ohio Revised Code 2953.36, expungement is not available for the following offenses:
1. Convictions when the offender is subject to a mandatory prison term;
2. Convictions under sections 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.04, 2907.05,
2907.06, 2907.321, 2907.322 or 2907.323, former section 2907.12; or under Chapter 4507, 4510, 4511, or 4549 of the O.R.C., or a conviction for a violation of a municipal ordinance that is substantially similar to any section contained in any of those chapters listed above;
3. Conviction of an offense of violence when the offense is a misdemeanor of the first degree or a felony and when the offense is not a violation of section 2917.03 of the O.R.C. and is not a violation of section 2903.13, 2917.01, 2917.31 of the O.R.C. that is a misdemeanor of the first degree;
4. Convictions of an offense in circumstances in which the victim of the offense was under eighteen years of age when the offense is a misdemeanor of the first degree or a felony;
5. Convictions of a felony of the first or second degree;
6. Bail forfeitures in a traffic case as defined in Traffic Rule 2.Procedure for Expungement:
Application for expungement of a conviction in the Maple Heights Mayor’s Court can be made in writing to the court. Forms are available at the clerk’s office. The application must be accompanied by a $100.00 fee. Defendants seeking expungement must meet statutory requirements.
The application for expungement may not be filed until one year after the person’s final discharge. “Final discharge” means either the date of conviction, or the date the defendant’s community control sanctions end, whichever is the later.
In deciding whether to grant an expungement the court will consider several factors such as whether the applicant is truly a first offender, whether criminal proceedings are pending against the applicant, whether the person has been rehabilitated to the court’s satisfaction , whether the prosecutor objects and the person’s interest in having the record sealed versus the legitimate needs of the government in maintaining the record.
Effect of Expungement:
In the event the court grants the application, it shall order all official records pertaining to the case sealed, and with certain exceptions order all index references to the case deleted. In essence, the proceedings shall be considered not to have occurred.
 |
|---|