Traffic Citation

You have received a Traffic Citation for violating a City Traffic Ordinance. Either the Penalty Assessment or Court Appearance box has been checked on the citation. Here is some information about Penalty Assessments as well as information on Court Appearances.

If the PENALTY ASSESSMENT box is checked, the RPD Officer will have entered the amount you owe and you may:

Pay the Penalty Assessment by Mail. Write the citation number on the memo line of your check and mail it to:

Roswell Municipal Court
PO Box 2124
Roswell, NM 88202-2124
DO NOT SEND PAYMENT TO MVD

Pay the Penalty Assessment On-Line. Have your citation or case number and a credit/debit card ready. Go to www.citepayusa.com and choose New Mexico and Roswell Municipal Court from the drop down menus. Follow the 5 easy steps to make your secure payment. Be sure to print your receipt for your records.

Pay Your Fine in Person. For most citations, a Municipal Court Clerk can take your payment at the window. (See Rules on the back page.) Bring your citation and you can pay by check, cash, money order, credit card or debit card at:

Roswell Municipal Court
420 N. Richardson Ave

If you choose Penalty Assessment and pay by mail, on-line or in person, you cannot change your plea.

Citations and Paperwork for Court

If you have a citation for: Bring this to Court:
No Registration/No License Plate Proof of registration for date in question
Suspended/No Driver's License Proof of your valid NM driver's license
No Proof of Insurance  Insurance card showing coverage
Defective Equipment (e.g. broken taillights, window tint) Your vehicle. Court staff will inspect the vehicle for completion of repairs.
   

COURT APPEARANCE REQUIRED

For citations NOT payed by Penalty Assessment, you MUST come to the court on a certain date and time. The box next to “Court Appearance” will be checked and the date and time entered.

If you do not appear at the appointed date and time, you will be in contempt of court. Your license might be suspended and/or a Summons or Arrest Warrant might be issued.

How to Prepare for Your Day in Court

Whether you are going to court to pay a fine or to see the Judge, you will be required to walk through a metal detector when you arrive at the court. Everyone entering the Court is subject to being searched. After you pass through the safety screening you will need to take a number and check in with a Municipal Court Clerk. There are some important rules you need to follow while you are at Court.

Rules for the Courthouse and Courtroom

The following items are prohibited in the Building:

Weapons of any kind
e.g., guns, knives, blackjacks, martial arts weapons, etc.

Recording Devices
e.g., cameras, voice recorders, cell phones, tablets, radios, etc.

The following items and behaviors are prohibited in the Courtroom:

  • Children
  • Shorts, tank tops, halter tops, muscle shirts
  • T-shirts with indecent words or graphics
  • Hats
  • Chewing gum
  • Talking in the audience

What do I say to the Judge? or How do I plead?

Once you are in the Courtroom, the Judge will call you to the podium when it is your turn. You will be asked to enter a plea before you tell the Judge anything about your case. If you enter a plea of Not Guilty, do not tell the Judge anything else about what happened; a trial date will be set for you. At trial, the Judge will hear from all parties involved in the case.

If you plead Guilty or No Contest (sentenced the same as a Guilty plea), the Judge will listen to you and decide what sentence is appropriate. A sentence might include attending a class, fines, community service, probation, jail, House Arrest or some combination of those penalties.