Municipal Court is located inside city hall at 1612 Lockwood Street, this is also known as Highway 380. Office hours are from 8-11am, Monday through Friday.
As the Municipal Court Judge I invite you to look at the information on this website and if you have further questions, please contact me at the number as stated. PLEASE note my office hours above.
Our court is generally known as a friendly and cooperative court that upholds decisions made by the local and state entities.
I am available to discuss with you any questions you might have.
Jerry C. Ford
Municipal Court Judge
 | ||||
SIMPLE ANSWERS TO OUR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO PAY THE CITATION? You have 12 days from the DATE of your citation. Funds are to be paid by 5pm on the 12th day.
WHEN DO I NEED TO CALL THE JUDGE? 1) To discuss a dispute. 2)To make payment arrangements. 3)To sit your citation out in jail. 3) Questions regarding the citation in general. Judge Ford handles all these matters himself.
WHEN DO I NOT NEED TO CALL THE JUDGE? The judge does not handle any matters regarding police officers, that is a police department matter.
WHAT IS DEFERRED ADJUDICATION? This is an option to pay a flat rate and be on probation 90 days from the date of your citation. The citation will not show on your driving record unless you get another citation within the 90 day probation period. This tends to be the more popular choice. The fee is a flat fee which means you do not pay the ticket, you do not take a driver's safety class. Currently the fee is $230 or at Judge Ford's discretion due to rate of speed.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I CAN HAVE DEFERRED ADJUDICATION OR DEFENSIVE DRIVING? The State of Texas will not allow an individual to have more than one each defensive driving per year nor if the individual has a CDL license.
I WANT TO TAKE DEFENSIVE DRIVING; DOES THE FEE I PAID THE COURT COVER MY CLASS? No. You are responsible for finding and paying for the class as well as the fee from TxDPS to obtain your driving record. CLICK THE BLUE DPS LINK BELOW TO OBTAIN YOUR DRIVING RECORD FROM DPS
I TOOK DEFENSIVE DRIVING AND MY CERTIFICATE/DRIVING RECORD HASN'T ARRIVED AND MY 90 DAYS ARE UP, WHAT DO I DO? Send a copy of the receipt you received at the time you took the class. This may be faxed as well.
WHERE DO I FIND A DEFENSIVE DRIVING CLASS? Many take the class via the Internet. You can rent videos. You may find a class in the yellow page listings, as well.
I LIVE IN ANOTHER AREA OF THE STATE, DO I HAVE TO COME BACK TO TAHOKA FOR A DEFENSIVE DRIVING CLASS? No. Only Texas residents may take the class, therefore any class taught in the State of Texas is accepted.
WHAT ARE MY PAYMENT OPTIONS IF THE COURT DOES NOT TAKE PERSONAL CHECKS? We accepted Visa/MasterCard debit and credit cards in the front office of City Hall or over the phone during the week. You may call the same number and those in the front office of City Hall will be happy to assist you with a card payment. If you live in Tahoka or wish to travel to pay your citation, those in the front office take payments for Municipal Court throughout the week from 8am-12pm and 1pm-5pm.
CAN I HAVE A PAYMENT PLAN? WHO CAN HANDLE THIS? Judge Ford is the only one that authorizes payment plans.
Jerry C. Ford, Municipal Court JudgeOFFICE HOURS
8-11AM
MONDAY-FRIDAY
MAILING:
PO BOX 300
Tahoka, Texas 79373
PHYSICAL:
1612 Lockwood Street
Phone 806.561.4284
Fax 806.561.4444
SPEEDING FINE AMOUNTS
UP TO 5 MILES OVER 130.00
6-8 MILES OVER 135.00
9-10 MILES OVER 140.00
11-13 MILES OVER 145.00
14-15 MILES OVER 150.00
16-18 MILES OVER 155.00
19-20 MILES OVER 160.00
21-23 MILES OVER 165.00
24-26 MILES OVER 170.00
27-29 MILES OVER 175.00
30-35 MILES OVER 240.00
36 OR MILES OVER THE LIMIT CONTACT THE JUDGE
NON MOVING VIOLATIONS ARE GENERALLY $130, CONTACT JUDGE FOR THE AMOUNT
SPEEDING VIOLATIONS IN SCHOOL ZONES
MILES OVER THE LIMIT FINE
FINE 1 TO 5 MILES OVER LIMIT…………….............165.00
6 TO 8 MILES OVER LIMIT…………….............176.00
9 TO 10 MILES OVER THE LIMIT……………….185.00
11 TO 13 MILES OVER THE LIMIT……………….196.00
14 TO 15 MILES OVER THE LIMIT……………….205.00
16 TO 18 MILES OVER THE LIMIT……………….216.00
19 TO 20 MILES OVER THE LIMIT……………….225.00
21 TO 23 MILES OVER THE LIMIT……………….236.00
24 TO 26 MILES OVER THE LIMIT……………….247.00
27 TO 29 MILES OVER THE LIMIT……………….258.00
30 TO 35 MILES OVER THE LIMIT……………….270.00
.
*DEFERRED ADJUDICATION OPTION*
The Deferred Adjudication Program for traffic violations allows you to pay a fee of $230.00 or at Judge Ford's discretion due to rate of speed. PAYMENT is due for this option within 12 days of the date of the citation. Then, further action will be taken for ninety (90) days, if you DO NOT receive another citation (within the sate of Texas) during this time, the violation will be dismissed.
*DRIVER’S SAFETY COURSE OPTION*
You MUST be a Texas Driver’s license holder & not be currently enrolled in or have taken a Driver’s Safety Course within the last 12 months. It is not allowed for speeds of 25 MPH over the limit or more.
A fee of $120.00 must be mailed to the Court along with this signed affidavit, immediately. DO NOT PAY THE AMOUNT DUE FOR THE SPEEDING TICKET, send only $120.00 to the court for courts costs.
You have 90 days, from the date of the citation, to complete the course. You MUST mail the court the original completed certificate from your class along with a certified copy of your driving record from the Department of Public Safety.
| ||||
