Source: http://mncourts.gov/Find-Courts/Hennepin/HennepinViolationsBureauandHearingOffice.aspx
Timestamp: 2019-04-26 12:21:27+00:00

Document:
The Violations Bureau handles in-person fine payments and answers questions about tickets. Hearings Officers may talk with you about your ticket and give you options.
The Southdale Courthouse closed permanently at the end of the day on February 1, 2019. Starting February 4, 2019, misdemeanor criminal and traffic cases that would have been scheduled for court at Southdale are moved to our Ridgedale and downtown locations. Questions? Call us at (612) 348-2040 or click on the chat button above.
More information about which cases will be heard at which courthouse is posted here.
In person: Hennepin County fines can be paid at any of the locations listed below.
The Violations Bureau is where you can go to pay a fine, schedule a Hearing Officer appointment, or speak with a court clerk. The Hearing & Fines Management Office is where you go to meet with a Hearing Officer to find out if you have any options when it comes to taking care of your ticket. You do not need an appointment to see a Hearing Officer at the downtown Minneapolis location.
You can also pay a fine, speak with a clerk, or see a Hearing Officer at the suburban court locations listed below. You will need an appointment to see a Hearing Officer at one of the suburban locations.
You can call the Court Payment Center (Metro (651) 281-3219, Outside the metro 1 (800) 657-3611) to talk to a court clerk or schedule a Hearing Office appointment. You can also click on the chat button above.
What should I do if the offense is "Court Required?"
Do I need a lawyer if I go to court?
I got a ticket for "No Proof of Insurance," but I have insurance on the car. What do I do?
The meter was defective. What do I need to do?
I paid to park at an electronic parking meter and still got a ticket. What can I do?
I sold a car, but then got a citation for it. What do I need to do?
I can't find the seller. How do I get the title for the my car put in my name?
I sent in too much money. What do I need to do?
I already sent in a check, but it was not enough. What do I need to do?
I missed a court appearance and have a bench warrant. What do I need to do?
What is a "street cleaning" violation in Minneapolis?
What does "Snow Emergency" mean?
I was ordered to pay a court fine. How can I pay it?
Please Note: For questions on driver's license, driving record, car title or registration, and license plates, please contact Driver & Vehicle Services (DVS).
Visit our Payment Options page to learn how you can pay online, in person, by phone or by mail.
failure to pay five or more traffic or parking citations may result in impoundment of your vehicle until the fines are paid.
If the listed offense is "court required," a "Notice (Summons) to Appear" in court at a set date and time will be mailed to you within 10 business days after the court gets the citation. It will be mailed to the address listed on the citation. Failure to appear in court may result in a warrant being issued for your arrest. If you have questions about the charge(s), please call the Criminal Court at (612) 348-2040.
No, but if you are not sure what to do or how to argue your case, you should talk with a lawyer. Brief legal advice from a volunteer attorney may be available the Legal Access Point Clinic at the Hennepin Court Self-Help Center.
Learn more about Self Help Legal Resources. You can find a lawyer by getting referrals from Bar Associations, community agencies, friends, employee assistance programs, and other people you trust. A free legal advice clinic might also be a service offered at your courthouse.
Many attorneys offer "limited scope" or "unbundled" services. This means that they will work on a specific task for you, and you don't have to hire them for the whole case. Some lawyers also offer a free initial consult.
I got a ticket for "No Proof on Insurance," but I have insurance on the car. What do I do?
The proof of insurance must cover the date of the offense AND have the vehicle identification number (VIN) on it. A bill or statement is NOT valid proof of insurance. When you give the court valid proof of insurance for the offense date, the ticket will be dismissed in most cases.
Bring your ticket in person, with the proof of insurance, to any of the four District Court locations listed on our main page.
If you got a ticket at an electronic parking meter and have the receipt that shows you paid for the space (meter) at the time the ticket was issued, for more information continue to how to settle that electronic meter ticket.
If you received a ticket at a meter that was defective, you must report the meter and ticket numbers to the Traffic Violations Bureau by calling (612) 348-2040.
If the meter is found to be defective, the citation will be canceled. If the meter is not found to be defective, you would need to either pay the fine or contest the ticket. You may check the status of the ticket online or by calling (Metro (651) 281-3219, Outside the metro 1 (800) 657-3611) and enter the ticket number. If the ticket has not been canceled, and you would like to contest the ticket, you can meet with a Hearing Officer.
For University of Minnesota meters, call (612) 626-7275.
Mail: Send us the ticket and a copy of your receipt in the envelope that came with the ticket, or mail them to us at: Violations Bureau, 300 S. 6th St., Hennepin Co. Govt. Ctr., Minneapolis, MN 55487-0014.
*If you paid for the wrong space number, you would need to pay the fine or see a Hearing Officer to contest the ticket.
If your driver’s license has been suspended due to an unpaid ticket, you must settle the outstanding ticket before your license can be reinstated. Call the Court Payment Center (Metro (651) 281-3219, Outside the metro 1 (800) 657-3611) to arrange for payment or a court appearance.
If your driver’s license has been revoked, call the MN Driver & Vehicle Services Division at (651) 296-6911 to learn about your options.
The Minnesota Judicial Branch publishes a forms packet called Petition for Hearing on Reinstatement of a Driver's License, but those forms CANNOT be used when the license was revoked for: 1) failure to take or pass an alcohol or drug test OR 2) failure to pay court-ordered child support or maintenance. Talk with a lawyer if you need more help with your case.
I sold a car, but then got a citation on it. What do I need to do?
Read and follow the steps in the Vehicle Owner Change Instructions. Another helpful resource is the Vehicle Transfer Facts published by the MN Dept. of Public Safety.
I can't find the seller. How can I get the title of my car put in my name?
Contact the MN Driver & Vehicle Services division to see what options you have in your situation. Information on how to ask for a court order to transfer title is available in the Help Topics.
I sent in too much money. What should I do?
Ticket payments are processed by the statewide Court Payment Center. If you believe you may have sent an overpayment, please call for more information on how to resolve this: Metro (651) 281-3219, Outside the metro 1 (800) 657-3611.
Ticket payments are processed by the statewide Court Payment Center. If an underpayment is received, the check or money order is processed as a "partial" payment. The additional amount owed must be paid immediately using one of the available ticket payment options.
I missed a court appearance and have a bench warrant against me. What do I need to do?
Visit the Hennepin County Sheriff's Warrant Office website or call the office at (612) 348-2000.
Each spring and fall the City of Minneapolis removes of dirt, sand, salt residue, leaves, and debris from the city streets. The City posts temporary no-parking signs when a street is to be cleaned. Vehicles parked on those streets during the temporary parking ban will be ticketed and towed.
Learn more about Minneapolis Street Sweep.
If your city has declared a "snow emergency," that means that no one can park a vehicle on certain streets for a period of time. Each city has different snow emergency rules. Contact your local city office for details. For current Minneapolis snow emergency information, see: Minneapolis Snow Emergency.
Criminal Court fines are due the day they are imposed.
Criminal Court fines must be paid in person OR by mail, and not online or by phone.
You may pay in person at the four Hennepin County District Court locations listed on the main page using cash, check, money order, or credit card (Visa or Mastercard).
Call the Court Payment Center at Metro (651) 281-3219, Outside the metro 1 (800) 657-3611, use the chat button above, or ​send an email via our contact form (please include a citation number if available).
Many types of citations (tickets) and fines issued in cities in Hennepin County are processed at Hennepin County District Court, including: parking , traffic, criminal, municipal ordinance, boating, and Department of Natural Resources (game and fish).
A "payable" citation is one that does NOT require a court appearance, and payments are made to the court office called Violations Bureau. View Payment Options.
Some citations are called “administrative" and are not payable to the court, but rather must be settled with the city government where they were issued. If the words "District Court" or "Violations Bureau" do NOT appear on the ticket, it is probably an "administrative" ticket. Carefully read the front and back of the ticket to see how and where you can pay or contest the ticket. MN Statutes § 169.999 allows local governments to issue administrative tickets in certain situations.
“Court-required” citations are those that require the person who got the ticket to appear in court at a specific date and time. If you got a citation that says “court required,” the court will send you a “Notice to Appear” to the address currently listed on your driver's license or ID, or to the address you gave to the court during the case. You must appear at the hearing or a warrant may be issued for your arrest. Call (612) 348-2040 if you need to change the hearing date. NOTE: If the court ordered you to pay a "fine," you cannot pay it online. You must pay court fines by mail or in person. Visit the Pay a ticket or Fine tab for details.
In many cases, it may be possible to set up a payment plan. Call the Court Payment Center to see if you are eligible for a payment plan at: Metro (651) 281-3219, Outside the metro 1 (800) 657-3611.
You can also meet with a hearing officer about a ticket if you believe that you are not guilty of the charge(s) or you cannot afford the fine. A hearing officer can explain possible options for settling a citation besides pleading guilty or paying the fine. In some cases, they can reduce or dismiss the charges, or give you other options to do community service rather than pay money. Approximately 90% of people who meet with a hearing officer settle their case. If your case does not settle with a hearing officer, it may get scheduled for a court hearing.
Certifiable: This term refers to whether a conviction on a violation or an offense is sent to the MN Driver & Vehicle Services agency to be included in the defendant’s driving record.
Collection: This is a process we use to collect unpaid fines.
Collection Agency: This is a company or agency the District Court has contracted to collect unpaid fines for parking and many other violations. The company or agency uses all of the normal collection methods of a professional collection agency.
Continuance for Dismissal (CFD): This is a program that offers the possibility of future "dismissal" of a charge. There is a fee for prosecution costs and there are conditions which requires you not to get the same or similar charges for one year. This program is usually used to avoid a conviction to the driving record. A $75 surcharge is assessed on cases charged under MN Statute § 169. See Surcharge below.
DAS | DAR | DAC: These stand for Driving After Suspension | Revocation | or Cancellation, which means that your license was not valid when you were stopped while driving. It is illegal to drive in Minnesota unless your driver’s license is valid. The charge is a misdemeanor and could result in your license being suspended again.
Driver’s License Suspension: MN Driver & Vehicle Services has suspended the privilege to drive until certain conditions are met. One kind of suspension is because you have failed to appear or pay fines on citations. When the citations are settled, the driver’s license can be reinstated. Another kind of suspension is because a "Driving After Suspension" is certified to your record or because you have too many traffic violations on your driving record. This kind of suspension is for a specific number of days and requires you to pay a reinstatement fee to get your license back.
Driver’s License Revocation: MN Driver & Vehicle Services has revoked your driver’s license for a certain period of time because a Driving While Intoxicated violation, Insurance violation, or a Marijuana in a Motor Vehicle violation has been certified to your driving record. You will be required to: take a driver’s test; prove that you have insurance; and pay a reinstatement fee before your driver’s license can be reinstated.
DVS/DPS: DVS is the MN Driver & Vehicle Services within the MN Dept. of Public Safety (DPS). This is the agency which controls your driver’s license and driving record.
Equipment violation: A violation which means there is something wrong with your vehicle such as a cracked windshield, faulty brakes, faulty muffler, etc. A license plate violation is also an equipment violation. Some equipment violations, such as driving without headlights, are certified to your driving record.
Fine: The money you pay as a penalty (or sentence) for a violation.
Moving violation: A violation which has to do with the way you may drive a vehicle in an illegal manner, such as speeding or running a red light.
MNCIS: Minnesota Court Information System is an online database of Minnesota Court Records. including the criminal and traffic courts. "MPA Remote" is the name of the public version of MNCIS available on the internet. MPA Remote is subject to restrictions listed in the MN Rules of Public Access to Records of the Judicial Branch. Online records do NOT include street addresses for parties, or information on pre-conviction criminal, traffic, and petty misdemeanor cases. Pre-conviction criminal information is only available on-site at the courthouse public-access records terminals or by calling (612) 348-2040. NOTE: "Driving Records" are maintained by the MN Dept. of Public Safety and their phone number is (651) 297-3298.
Scofflaw: A term used to refer to a person who ignores citations on a regular basis and has received a number of unpaid citations. The person “scoffs” at the law. A vehicle with 5 or more unpaid citations will be put on the scofflaw list and may be towed and impounded until all of the citations are paid.
Sentence: The penalty given for a violation of the law. A sentence may include a money fine and, for misdemeanors and higher, may include jail time.
Snow Emergency: A process where the city government plows the street to remove large amounts of snow. If your car is parked on a street that needs to be towed, you could get a ticket and have your car towed. Find more information on snow emergencies here.
STS: Sentencing to Service is a program of the Hennepin County Probation Department that is kind of like a “work squad.” Each day of STS is an 8-hour work day, and a person may be ordered to serve a number of days of STS instead of spending time in jail or paying a fine. STS now offers the ability to work your STS days in 4-hour shifts as well. Sometimes STS is also an option to settle a ticket with a Hearing Officer.
Surcharge on parking violation = $12.00 MN Statute § 357.021, subd. 6.
Surcharge on criminal/traffic violation = $75.00 MN Statute § 357.021, subd. 6.
Diversion surcharge = $75.00 MN Statute § 357.021, subd. 6, assessed on traffic violations charged under MN Statute § 169 when a person enters a diversion program, continuance without prosecution, continuance for dismissal, or stay of adjudication.
Law Library Fee = $3.00 MN Statute § 134A.09 (in Hennepin County).
When a defendant is charged with more than one offense in a case, the appropriate surcharge ($12 parking surcharge or $75 criminal/traffic surcharge) is assessed only once in that case.
If a citation includes multiple offenses, one of which is a parking offense, the $75 criminal/traffic surcharge is assessed in that case. MN Statute § 357.021, subd. 6.
When a defendant is charged with more than one offense in a case, the appropriate law library fee shall be assessed only once in that case.
If a citation includes multiple offenses with different surcharges, the highest applicable surcharge is assessed. MN Statute § 134A.09, subd. 2a and § 134A.10, subd. 3.
Traffic Violation: A violation of the law that involves the operation of a vehicle.
ViBES: Violations Bureau Electronic System is the system that was previously used in the Hennepin and Ramsey County District Courts for processing traffic/payable citations. In January 2016, the ViBES System was retired and all traffic/payable citation records were moved to the statewide case management system called MNCIS (see above).
Traffic and parking tickets (and any late fees) must be paid in full. In many cases, it may be possible to set up a payment plan. Call the Court Payment Center to see if you are eligibile for a payment plan at: Metro (651) 281-3219, Outside the metro 1 (800) 657-3611.
You can pay your citation (ticket) online by transferring funds from your checking or savings account, or by using Visa or MasterCard. The Citation Payment System can also be accessed with your smart phone or other hand-held web device. There is a $1.50 fee for using this service.
No Records Found? If you get a message of "No Records Found" in our online payment system, there may be a delay entering the citation into the court's records. You have 30 days from the time the citation is entered into the court's records to respond to it. Please try again in a couple of days.
You can pay your ticket or citation with a Visa or Mastercard by calling Metro (651) 281-3219, Outside the metro 1 (800) 657-3611. Please note: There is a $1.50 fee for using this service.
Each location also has a drop box for after hours payments. DO NOT leave cash in the drop box.
or a warrant may be issued for your arrest.
If the listed offense is "Court Required," then a "Summons to Appear" will be issued that gives you a court date. The "Summons to Appear" will be mailed to you within 10 business days after the citation is received by the court. It will be mailed to the address listed on the citation. Failure to appear may result in a Bench Warrant being issued for your arrest.
a continuance for dismissal with payment of prosecution costs.
Approximately 85% of people who meet with a Hearing Officer reach an agreement, so they do not have to go to an in-court hearing. If a case does not settle with a Hearing Officer, a person has the right to ask for a court hearing. A person always has this right with misdemeanor offenses, however, if the offense is a petty misdemeanor, this right to a court hearing is waived if the defendant does not appear within 30 days as provided in MN Statutes § 169.91. The Hearing Officer may be able to schedule a court hearing for the case if you are not satisfied with the options that they offer you and the ticket is not delinquent.
On a first come first served basis, you may meet with a Hearing Officer at the Hearing & Fines Office located on the skyway level (beyond weapons screening) of the Hennepin Co. Government Center in downtown Minneapolis.
Call the Court Payment Center (Metro (651) 281-3219, Outside the metro 1 (800) 657-3611) to schedule an appointment to meet with a Hearing Officer. Appointments are available at several Hennepin District Court locations. Appointments can also be made in person at the Hennepin Co. Government Center and at the Suburban Court locations. *Free parking is available at our Suburban Court locations.
IMPORTANT: If you cannot appear for your scheduled appointment be sure to call the Court Payment Center before the date and time of your hearing. If you miss your appointment, you must go to the Hennepin Co. Government Center in downtown Minneapolis for a "walk-in" meeting.
The Hearing Officer (not a judge) will review the citation(s), defendant’s citation history, court history, driving record and other related information, and will listen to what the defendant has to say about the citation(s). The Hearing Officer will explain the consequences of the violation(s), including fines. NOTE: It is not possible to have a trial with evidence at this meeting because a trial can only take place in court with a judge.
Q: I have an appointment to meet with a Hearing Officer but now I cannot make it. What can I do?
If you call the Court Payment Center (Metro (651) 281-3219, Outside the metro 1 (800) 657-3611) before the date and time of your appointment, you may request a "continuance" to reschedule the appointment. If you miss your scheduled appointment, you must go to our Hennepin Co. Govt. Center location Downtown Minneapolis for a "walk-in" appearance.
Q: What happens if I fail to show up for an appointment with the Hearing Officer?
Due to high demand for Hearing Officer appointments, if you miss your scheduled appointment, you will have to meet with Hearing Officer on a walk-in basis at the Hennepin County Government Center location in downtown Minneapolis. The citation will remain "open" until a hearing is held and action is taken. This could result in the suspension of your driver's license by MN Driver & Vehicle Services or the amount owed being sent to collection if the due date has passed.
Q: Can I appeal a decision made by a Hearing Officer?
Q: What happens if I fail to respond to a citation?
If you fail to respond to a citation, additional fees will be added and the unpaid citation may result in the suspension of your driver's license by MN Driver & Vehicle Services or the amount owed being sent to collection. You have 30 days to respond to a citation from the date it was entered into court's record system. After 30 days, a $5 fee is added. After an additional 21 days, a "delinquency fee" of $25 is added. If the citation is for a traffic violation, it may result in suspension of your driver’s license. Other unpaid citations are sent to collection. Visit the Late Fees & Collection tab.
NOTE: Failure to pay five (5) or more traffic or parking citations may result in impoundment of your vehicle until the fines are paid.
Q: What happens if I fail to show up for a "court required" hearing?
Failure to appear at a court hearing will result either in a bench warrant being issued for your arrest or if the case is a petty misdemeanor, the hearing may be held in your absence and you may be found guilty and sentenced. This could result in the suspension of your driver's license by MN Driver & Vehicle Services or the amount owed being sent to collection.
Q: Why are fines so expensive?
The basic fines for offenses in Hennepin County are set by the Hennepin County Judges, in most cases, along with statewide practices. In addition, all citations have surcharges added which are set by the Minnesota Legislature. The surcharge on parking tickets is currently $12. All other citations currently have a $75 surcharge to the state and a $3 Law Library Fee (in Hennepin County). The surcharge is added to the fine for the total amount payable on the citation.
Q: How much are court fines?
The fines in court are set by the judge. For a petty misdemeanor the fine may be $0 – $300. For a misdemeanor the sentence may be a fine of $50 - $1000 and/or 0 – 90 days in jail. The surcharge of $75 and a Hennepin Law Library Fee of $3 are added to court fines. More information can be found in the Fine Amounts tab.
Q: What if I just want to pay a fine?
You may do so, but understand that paying a fine is a "plea of guilty" and certain offenses are certified to your "driving record" at the MN Dept. of Public Safety. Parking citations are never certified to any driving record.
Q: I paid a fine but I want the case re-opened. How can I do this?
You must file a Motion to Withdraw a Plea of Guilty with the court. More information can be found in the Withdrawing a Guilty Plea tab on this page.
Q: What if my violation is a misdemeanor?
Most misdemeanor violations are "payable" (not required to go to the Hearing Office or court), but to learn all of your options and the consequences for the violation(s), you should meet with a Hearing Officer or call the Court Payment Center at: Metro (651) 281-3219, Outside the metro 1 (800) 657-3611.
Q: What happens if I was stopped while driving without insurance?
If you are stopped by a police officer and do not have insurance, you will be ticketed and charged with a misdemeanor (involving a fine plus a surcharge), and your car may be impounded. If you pay a fine or are found guilty of the offense in court, your driver’s license will be revoked for 30-365 days. You may meet a Hearing Officer to discuss your options.
Q: What happens if I was stopped while driving without a driver’s license?
If you are stopped and you have no driver’s license, or you have a driver’s license which is suspended, revoked or canceled, you will be given a citation which is a "payable" ticket, and your car may be impounded. All of these offenses have adverse affects on your "driving record" at the MN Dept. of Public Safety. You may see a Hearing Officer to discuss your options to settle this kind of citation.
Q: What if I don’t have the money to pay a fine?
If your citation is in a "current" status, you may call the Court Payment Center to see if you are eligible for a payment plan at: Metro (651) 281-3219, Outside the metro 1 (800) 657-3611.
You may also meet with a Hearing Officer to find out what other options you have. It is best to see a Hearing Officer as soon as possible because if you wait until the citation is delinquent, your options will be very limited. The Hearing Officer may be able to refer you to do community work service or take a driving class to pay the fine, depending on your case.
Q: What can I do if my driver’s license is suspended or revoked and I need to drive to work?
If your license is suspended for non-payment of fines, you must settle the fines to get your license back. If it is suspended or revoked for other reasons, contact the Dept. of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services to see if you are eligible for a limited license to drive to work. Please call (651) 296-2025 with driver's license questions.
Q: What if I find out that I have tickets on a vehicle that I don’t own anymore?
You need to get the vehicle title transferred to the buyer. You should have the buyer file the title documents, if possible. If you cannot find the buyer or the title documents, you will need to contact the Dept. of Public Safety to learn what your options are for transferring title into the buyer's name. You will need the buyer’s name and address and the date of sale. Once the title is transferred, bring a copy of that title filing paperwork to the court and we can remove your name from the citations issued on the vehicle after the transfer date.
Another helpful resource is the Vehicle Transfer Facts published by the MN Dept. of Public Safety.
The most accurate way to find out your fine amount is to check online or talk to a court clerk. You can look up the fine amount for a citation (ticket) in our Citation Payment System. The total amount owed will include any late fees that apply.
NOTE: It can take 20 days or more after a citation was issued before it is entered into the court’s system. If you get a message of "No Records Found," please check again in a few days. You can also call the Court Payment Center(Metro (651) 281-3219, Outside the metro 1 (800) 657-3611) to ask about fines, or click on the chat button above.
A citation usually includes numbers for MN Statutes and/or city Ordinances. A statute is a statewide law, and a city ordinance is a law that applies to actions in a particular city or municipality. If you were charged by a local city/jurisdictional ordinance, please check online, call the Court Payment Center (Metro (651) 281-3219, Outside the metro 1 (800) 657-3611) to ask about fines, or click on the chat button above.
Each citation is charged a $75 criminal/traffic surcharge and a $3 Hennepin County law library fee.
Some citations may include number for the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), which applies to certain violations involving commercial vehicles.
Police Officers often abbreviate the statute or ordinance number. Example: MN Stat. 169.26(2)(a) means that the citation was issued under the MN Statutes, Chapter 169, Section 26, Subdivision 2, Paragraph a, for failure to stop at a railroad crossing. The officer might only write 169.26s2 on the ticket.
Make sure the offense described in the statute or ordinance listed on the ticket matches the offense with which you are charged.
If you got a ticket for a speeding charge (MN Statute § 169.14) and the speed listed was 20 or more miles per hour over the posted limit, there is an additional surcharge.
IMPORTANT! If you pay a citation, you are entering a plea of "guilty" to the charges. You have 30 days from when the citation (ticket) is entered into the court's record system to either pay the fine or meet with a Hearing Officer. It can take 20 days or longer for a citation to be entered in the court’s system. Check the status of a citation.
When there is no response to a citation, or the fine is not paid within 30 days from the date when the citation (ticket) is entered into the court's record system, a late fee of $5 is added to the fine amount due. The court mails a late notice to the defendant at the address listed on the defendant's driver's license or ID with the options for handling the ticket by the due date.
If the defendant fails to pay the fine (plus $5 late fee) within 55 days of the due date, another delinquency (late) fee of $25 is added to the fine amount due.
All unpaid fines and late fees for traffic or vehicle equipment related citations are sent to the Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) division of the MN Dept. of Public Safety with a request that the defendant’s driver’s license be suspended until the citation has been resolved. DVS is required to grant those requests and suspend the drivers' licenses.
All unpaid fines and late fees may be sent to a collection agency for collection. This agency uses collections methods such as Minnesota tax refund recapture, notices, phone calls and other typical collection methods. The court may hire a private collection agency or use the services of the MN Department of Revenue (DOR). NOTE: A 20% collection fee is added to cases the are sent to collections.
Unpaid court or citation fines that are in collection with the MN Department of Revenue (DOR) must be paid directly to the DOR and cannot be paid at any Courthouse.
In Person: You may pay in person at the office of the MN Department of Revenue located at 600 North Robert Street, St. Paul, MN 55101. Cash, checks, and money orders are accepted in person between 8:00am and 4:15pm, M-F.
With Credit Card: Go to www.payMNtax.com or call 1-855-947-2966. NOTE: There is an additional fee for using this payment method. Select the "Minnesota Debt Referred to Revenue" payment category on the screen. NOTE: Payments made on that website may take up to ten (10) days to be remitted to the DOR.
With Bank Account: Go to DOR e-Services or call 1-800-570-3329. NOTE: To make a payment online, you must have the collection notice that the DOR mailed to you. Do not try to make a payment without that notice because it gives you identifying information required to process the online payment. If you were told that your fine has gone to collections, but you have not yet received your collection notice, please contact the DOR at 1-800-657-3909.
Questions on Paying a Fine in Collection?
Mail: Same as directly above.
You can find several online services, including license status check, at: www.mndriveinfo.org.
For watercraft/snowmobiles, contact the MN Department of Natural Resources at (651) 296-6157 or info.dnr@state.mn.us.
If you entered a plea of guilty to a citation by paying a ticket or failing to pay a ticket and you now want to withdraw that plea, you must file a "Motion to Withdraw a Plea of Guilty" with the court. You may print the required forms and instructions using the links below. You may file the motion and receive a court hearing date at any Court Division location. Later, you must appear in court at the hearing date and time to present your case to the court. If you have questions on where to file a motion or which city attorney's office must be served, please call (612) 348-2040 or use the chat feature above.
​Note: If you paid a citation for No Proof of Insurance and you have proof of insurance at the time of the citation, you may be able to have your case reopened by meeting with a Hearing Officer without filing a motion and going to a court hearing before a judge. See: How to meet with a Hearing Officer.
Need legal help? Visit our Self-Help Center or Find a Lawyer.

References: § 169
 § 169
 § 357
 § 357
 § 357
 § 169
 § 134
 § 357
 § 134
 § 134
 § 169
 § 169