Frequently Asked Questions
1. How Can I Reach the Traffic Division?
2. Can I Pay This Ticket?
3. How Much Is This Ticket?
4. How Do I Pay This Ticket?
5. What Steps Do I Take If I Want to Go to Court?
6. What Should I Bring to Court?
7. What Happens When Court Starts?
8. What Happens If I Enter a Guilty Plea?
9. What Happens If I Enter a No Contest Plea?
10. What Happens If I Enter a Not Guilty Plea?
11. What Happens If I Enter a Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity Plea?
12. How Do I Request a Continuance?
13. What if I Fail to Appear?
14. Do I Have to Show Proof of Insurance?
1. How Can I Reach the Traffic Division?
Criminal/Traffic Division
P: 419-885-8975 Option 1
8 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Civil/Small Claims Division
8 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.
As long as you have not been charged with one of the following:
- Any felony or indictable offense
- Operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs of abuse, or permitting another to do so
- Leaving the scene of an accident
- Driving under suspension or without a license, except for expired license of less than six (6) months
- Third moving violation within twelve (12) months
- Eluding/fleeing a police officer
- Drag racing
- Physical control
- Illegal license plates
- Any speed clocked at 90 mph or more
- Passing a school bus
- More than 25 mph in a school zone
- Reckless operation of a motor vehicle
- Any accident with no proof of insurance
Criminal/Traffic Cost
Effective September 16, 2019
Base Court Cost $130
Additional charges may be added depending on required collection of Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) reinstatement fee, late fee, service of summon, subpoenas, etc. These fees are computed at the time of conviction since each police agency has different fees.
Public Defender Fee $25
As of Sept. 29, 2005, Ohio law requires that all persons who request a public defender must pay the application fee.
Click for fee charts
The court accepts cash, personal checks on banks within Lucas County, money orders, certified checks, MasterCard and Visa. You can also pay online. To do so, click here.
All tickets must be paid prior to the court date listed on the bottom of your ticket. Failure to pay prior to the court date will result in an additional $10 late fee added to the amount due.
You also have the option of mailing in your payment as long as it is received by the court prior to your court date (not the post-mark date). If you mail your payment, include:
- The copy of your ticket, with the waiver of court appearance signed (located on the back).
- A check, money order or certified check made payable to Sylvania Municipal Court for the correct amount.
- Proof of insurance is required if you did not show it to the officer at the time you received the ticket. (See front of ticket to see which box was checked.)
- A stamped, self-addressed envelope if you would like a receipt mailed to you.
5. What Steps Do I Take If I Want to Go to Court?
You still have the option of appearing in court if you would like to. You should report to the check-in counter on the date and time listed on your ticket.
6. What Should I Bring to Court?
- A valid driver’s license.
- Proof of insurance on the date and for the car you were driving at the time you received the ticket.
- Proof of vehicle ownership if the vehicle was impounded.
- Adequate funds to pay fines and costs.
7. What Happens When Court Starts?
Once court convenes, the Judge will advise you of your rights and the four pleas that are available to you:
- Guilty
- No Contest
- Not Guilty
- Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity
8. What Happens If I Enter a Guilty Plea?
Guilty means that you admit to having done what you are charged with.
It is likely that you will be sentenced immediately. The Judge will take into consideration your prior record, if any, and the nature of the offense with which you have been charged. Any determination of Fine and Cost will be decided by the Judge at that time. (The violation bureau payout schedule does not apply when you appear in court.)
9. What Happens If I Enter a No Contest Plea?
By pleading no contest, you do not admit guilt; therefore, no one can use that plea against you in any subsequent trial or hearing, whether it is criminal or civil in nature. In a no contest plea, you admit that the allegations contained in the complaint or citation are true, but only for the purpose of this hearing. If the Judge accepts your plea of no contest and there are sufficient allegations contained in the citation, you will likely be found guilty. The Judge will read the report of the officer and listen to what you have to say by way of mitigation prior to sentencing.
The Judge will take into consideration your prior record, if any, and the nature of the offense with which you have been charged. Any determination of fines and costs will be decided by the Judge at that time. (The violation bureau payout schedule does not apply when you appear in court.)
10. What Happens If I Enter a Not Guilty Plea?
Not guilty means you deny having done one or more of the elements contained in the offense or that you have a justifiable excuse for doing what you have done. If you plead not guilty, the matter will be set for trial at some date in the future.
11. What Happens If I Enter a Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity Plea?
This plea is self-explanatory, except that it must be filed in writing.
12. How Do I Request a Continuance?
Traffic court is held on the following days and times:
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, starting at 8:30 a.m.
If you cannot appear on the date and time scheduled on your citation, you must make a request for a continuance. All requests to continue a court hearing must be made in writing and made before the scheduled hearing date/time. Requests to continue may be made the following ways.
- Filed in person at the Court Clerk’s office during operating hours.
- Sent via email to clerk@sylvaniacourt.com
- Sent via fax to 419.885.8923
- Mailed by ordinary US mail to: Sylvania Municipal Court, 6700 Monroe St, Sylvania, Ohio 43560.
No request for a continuance will be accepted over the phone.
Failure to appear in court will result in the following actions by the court:
- A warrant for arrest will be issued for failure to appear/contempt of court. The warrant will be entered by the respective police agency into the State of Ohio computer. If arrested, you may be required to post a cash bond to guarantee your appearance in court.
- The court will notify the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) of your failure to appear. The BMV will suspend your driving rights and deny renewal of your driver’s license and registration until you resolve this matter with the court, and there will be additional fees added to the original cost of the ticket by both the court and the State of Ohio.
14. Do I Have to Show Proof of Insurance?
Proof of insurance is a State of Ohio requirement and must be shown for the date on which you received the ticket. The court is required to notify the Bureau of Motor Vehicles if proof of insurance was not shown.
Click here to download the proof of insurance form to your computer.
