Marietta City Traffic Court: Address, Phone, Tips, & More!

Traffic Court is a pain in the neck, but it's worth dealing with if you want your ticket resolved with the least of fines or if you decide to fight the ticket. Let's get started!

Marietta City Municipal Court is also known as "Traffic Court."
* Phone ----- 770-794-5435
* Address -- 240 Lemon Street, Marietta GA 30060 Click to go to Google Maps and see this address!
* The Court's contact web page is http://www.mariettaga.gov/departments/court/contact.aspx.

DISCLAIMER: This is NOT legal advice. I am not an attorney. Contact a licensed attorney for specific case-related advice. This is common-sense advice based on a layperson's direct personal experience.

Questions about Tickets / Fines?
1. If you've received a ticket, the court needs 10 days for recording before they can answer questions relating to your specific case. If you have lost your ticket before 10 days have passed, contact Marietta City Police Department. It's best to show up in-person. They should have a copy of the ticket floating around somewhere.
2. Fines are assigned based on an Offense-to-Fines table, or fines are assigned by statutes declaring the fine to be levied by the court. It has almost nothing to do with who you are.
3. Police reports can be obtained from Marietta City Police Department. The address is 240 Lemon St, Marietta, GA 30060-1651 . The phone number is (770) 794-5300.
4. If you want to know the exact statute cited should be found on the ticket. You can use: Google, the County Law Library, or the GA Code books at the Cobb County Library System's main branch. If you use Google.com, use "OCGA" then the exact text, including all other marks. If you do not have your ticket, but remember the name of the charge, then try Google and use "OCGA" combine with the phrase.

Do you want to lower your fine?
1. Go to Court - the fines sometimes shrink if you show up.
2. Can't handle the fine? You can try asking for extended time to pay or for a lower fine.
3. Community Service Hours in lieu of a fine can be considered an equitable remedy.
4. Very rarely, if circumstances are such that fines or service hours constitute a severe hardship, the judge can consider equity (also defined as the "fairness in the situation") and levy zero fines or service hours.

Concerned about Points on your License?
1. Consider a plea bargain where you receive a lower-level offense in return for a higher fine.
2. Lawyer up. If points on your license can get you fired, paying legal fees might be worth it.

What if you are innocent and are wanting a trial?
1. You might be required to request a change in venue to get a jury trial if that's what you want to do. Due Process rights afford you the right to a trial if you're being charged with violations of the law. If you lose a trial, the penalties (attorney fees, fines, service hours, etc.) can be substantial.
2. Sometimes tickets are written for impossible offenses, like "No Seatbelt" tickets given with the officer's statement of "wearing the seatbelt wrong" written on the ticket. If you can argue & prove impossibility on the spot, the judge might dismiss the ticket. This is why you should research the law(s) on any tickets.
3. Research the issue - try Avvo.com - you can search for highly-rated attorneys and advice. This is a starting point in your research. Use the exact statute being quoted to prosecute you, and read the full text because this can sometimes get you off the hook for the ticket.

General common-sense advice for your court date:
**** Turn off cell phones or put them on silent so you do not get cited for Contempt of Court! ****
1. If you have plenty of time to burn, then show up for court and get to the back of the line - Traffic Court is sometimes so horribly overrun that the clerks sometimes automatically hand out continuances to later dates.
2. If you have little time to spare, then arrive as early as you can - the courts sometimes seat people based on type of case and/or arrival time. If you arrive early, then you might get out earlier.
3. Dress appropriately, and be as polite and nice as you can, especially if you are arguing equity or are asking for a break - equity depends largely on the situation and whether the judge perceives you as deserving equity.
4. Take quiet things to do. Court dates can literally last all day long. Sudoku is a great time-killer.
5. Find someone well-spoken that you trust, and ask them to help you prepare for your case.
6. Ignorance is not a defense. "I do not know the law" does not cut it.

Traffic Court can actually be fun! Stay awake, and enjoy the show - there are interesting stories available if you pay attention. One court attendee was present to defend her 13-year-old child who had somehow paid thousands of dollars for a car and was joyriding overnight while sleeping through school by day. Also, some of the trial lawyers hang out at, or near, the court house waiting for a meal ticket if they are bored or are waiting between cases. You can sometimes find a lawyer by asking around or looking for nicely dressed people with suitcases.

Sources:
1. Personal experience in Traffic Court for several tickets, some of which have been dismissed.
2. Marietta City Municipal Court website (http://www.mariettaga.gov/departments/court/)