Justice Court

Justices of the Peace serve both as Judges and Magistrates. As Judges, they preside over justice criminal courts, justice civil court, and small claims court. Criminal cases include but are not limited to traffic cases, school attendance cases, minor alcohol violation cases, and minor tobacco violation cases. Law enforcement agencies, including but not limited to the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Department, Department of Public Safety, Parks & Wildlife, Health Department, Animal Control, and Constable’s Office file complaints in justice criminal court. Civil cases include but are not limited to evictions and other suits with amounts in controversy up to $10,000. Every party to a civil suit has the right to request a jury proceeding.

 

As magistrates, Justices of the Peace issue warrants, conduct criminal examining trials, admonish prisoners, and set bonds. They also conduct juvenile detention hearings and admonish juveniles for statements. Additionally, Justices of the Peace perform marriage ceremonies and perform coroner duties on deaths that occur when not attended by a physician.

 

While defendants may represent themselves in a case before the justice court, defendants should consider seeking legal counsel before filing a plea. It is the duty of this office to help you in any way possible, but the Rules of Judicial Ethics prohibit this office:

  • From giving legal advice
  • Telling either party how to present their case.
  • Expressing opinions of law.

The Judge and Court Clerks can answer questions:

 

  • Only of a general nature.
  • About procedures of the Court.
  • Concerning court costs.

The Judge and Clerks must remain impartial, and cannot hear any part of a case, or discuss the merits of any case, unless all parties are present.

 

 

DSC Request
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Driving Record Application
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  • Driving Record Application  [PDF]
Driving Safety Courses

If you are charged with an offense involving the operation of a motor vehicle or a motorcycle defined by Subtitle C of the Texas Transportation Code (Rules of the Road), you may require that your citation be dismissed by successfully completing a driving safety course or a motorcycle operator training course. You will lose that right if you do not provide the Court with notice of your request to take the course on or before your appearance date.

You do not have the right to take a course if you are currently taking a course, or have completed a course within the 12 months preceding the date of the offense and the course was taken to secure a dismissal of a traffic citation.

You do not have the right to complete a course if you hold a commercial driver’s license of if you held a commercial driver’s license when the offense was committed.

You do not have the right to complete a course if you are charged with:

(1) Passing a school bus,
(2) Failing to stop and give information or render aid following an accident, or on striking an unattended vehicle or fixture or highway landscape,
(3) A traffic offense committed in a construction and maintenance work zone while workers were present,
(4) Speeding 95 miles per hour or more, or
(5) Speeding 25 miles per hour or more over the posted speed limit.

You may not take the course if you are taking the course at the time of this request, or if you have completed a course within the 12 months preceding the date of the offense.

 

How to Request a Training Course Dismissal

On or before the appearance date on your citation, you must:

(1) Enter a plea of guilty or no contest;
(2) Waive a trial by jury;
(3) Submit to the Court a Driving Safety Course Request Form;
(4) Hold a valid Texas driver’s license, or be a member, or the spouse or dependent child of a member, of the United States Military Forces serving on active duty; and
(v) Provide proof of automobile liability insurance or other proof of financial responsibility as required by Chapter 601 of the Texas Transportation Code.

Pay court costs and fees in the amount of $135.00

If eligible, you may appear in person on or before your court date or you may submit request via certified mail. 

When documents have been submitted and court cost have been paid, the Court will defer the imposition of the judgment for 90 days to allow you to successfully complete the driving safety course or motorcycle operator training course.

 

DO NOT TAKE THE COURSE UNTIL YOU RECEIVE AN ORDER FROM THE COURT ALLOWING YOU TO DO SO.

Members of the United States Military

If you do not have a valid Texas driver’s license but you are a member, or the spouse or dependent child of a member of the United States military forces serving on active duty, you must submit an affidavit stating that you were not taking a course in another state on the date the request to take the course was made, and that you have not completed such a course within the 12 months preceding the date of the course.

 

Requesting Your Driving Record

Visit https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/how-order-driver-record  to order your driving record online. You may also order your driving record from the Texas Department of Public Safety by sending an Application for Copy of Driver Record (DR-1) to:

Driver Records Bureau
Texas Department of Public Safety
Box 149246
Austin, Texas 78714-9246

Completing the Course and Dismissal

If you are allowed to take a driving safety course or motorcycle operator training course, you have 90 days within which to complete the course and present to the Court:

  1. A uniform certificate of driving safety course completion, or verification of completion of the motorcycle operator training course;
  2. Your driving record as maintained by the Department of Public Safety to show that no driving safety course or motorcycle operator training course was completed within the 12 months preceding the date of the offense; and
  3. An Affidavit stating that you were not taking a driving safety course or motorcycle operator training course, as applicable, under Article 45.0511, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, on the date the request to take the course was made, and that you had not completed such a course that is not shown on your driving record within the 12 months preceding the date of the offense; or if you are a member, or the spouse or dependent child of a member of the United States Military forces serving on active duty who does not have a valid Texas driver’s license, an Affidavit stating that you were not taking a driving safety course or motorcycle operator training course, as applicable, in another state on the date the request to take the course was made and had not completed such a course with 12 months before the offense date.

If you successfully complete the driving safety course or motorcycle operator training course as required, the charge against you will be dismissed.

You may avoid an appearance in Court by submitting the required documentation to the Court, either in person or by mail, at any time before the date you are required to appear. If you are submitting your proof of completion and affidavit by mail, it is recommended that you keep copies of these documents.
 

Failure to Comply

If you fail to comply with the requirements for a driving safety or motorcycle operator training course dismissal, the Court will notify you by mail, at your address on file with the Court, or at the address that appears on the citation, of a time and place to appear to show cause why the evidence was not timely submitted to the Court. Failure to appear as required in the notice, or failure to show good cause, will result in the imposition of judgment requiring you to immediately pay the fine.

 

 

Dismissals
Dismissal Of Violations Regarding Inspection Sticker, License Registration, Expired Driver’s License

Effective For Offenses On Or After September 1, 2007

The following offenses may be dismissed with a $20.00 administrative fee if it meets the following criteria and with proof of correction is submitted.
  • Change of Address or change name on drivers license : license must be renewed to reflect appropriate address or name within 20 days or before first court date.
  • Expired Vehicle Registration: renew within 20 days from the date of the ticket or before the first court appearance, whichever is later and pay penalty fee for late registration to County tax office.
  • Expired Motor Vehicle Inspection (MVI): renew within 20 days or before first court date and inspection sticker must not have been expired more than 60 days.
The following offenses may be dismissed with a $10.00 administrative fee if it meets the following criteria and with proof of correction is submitted.
  • Expired Drivers License: renew within 20 days from violation or before first court appearance.
  • Fail to Display Drivers License: dismiss with proof of valid driver’s license.
  • Violate Driver’s License Restriction: remove restriction before first court appearance or surgically correct before offense date.
  • Obscure or Unclean License Plate: remove obstruction and/or clean plate before first court appearance.
  • Defective Equipment: correct violation before first court appearance. This does not apply to Commercial Motor Vehicles.
Administrative fee is due at time of dismissal.

 
Evacuation Order/Orden de Evacuación

FORT BEND COUNTY, TX – Fort Bend County Officials and the Emergency Operations Center have been closely monitoring the water level in the Brazos River. The National Weather Service forecast indicates that the Brazos River will crest sometime Tuesday, August 29 in the late afternoon or early evening at an elevation of fifty nine feet at the Richmond gauge.

Judge Hebert said that “…a flood of this magnitude is an 800 year event and it exceeds the design specifications of our levees, and is potentially dangerous for a good portion of Fort Bend County. A fifty-nine foot river level threatens to overtop many of the levees in our area. As a result, I am ordering both voluntary and mandatory evacuations for many of the levee improvement districts along the Brazos River, based on all specific facts pertaining to each levee. ”

A voluntary evacuation means that you should consider leaving to head for a safer area. There is a chance that surrounding flood waters may hinder your ability to get in and out of your neighborhood. You may be stuck in your neighborhood for several days.

A mandatory evacuation means that there is risk to life and safety as well as property. There is also a risk to the lives of first responders who might be called on to rescue you when the expected danger materializes. During a mandatory evacuation emergency, personnel WILL NOT be able to respond to your calls for help. You will be on your own. You cannot rely on help from others.

A mandatory evacuation indicates the possibility of danger to your life. We urge you not to ignore it. If you are in a mandatory evacuation zone, do the smart thing: leave and be safe. Local law enforcement and the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s office will patrol evacuated areas.

Pull up the interactive map to find out if your residence is in the evacuation area: https://fbcgis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=d1a054f74789410bbe35bed305c81841

The following areas are under a MANDATORY evacuation order:

  • First Colony LID #1
  • Fort Bend County LID #20
  • Fort Bend County LID #6
  • Fort Bend County LID #7
  • Fort Bend County MUD #115
  • Fort Bend County MUD #46
  • Fort Bend County MUD #49
  • Municipal Utility District #121
  • Palmer Plantation #1
  • Palmer Plantation #2

The following areas are under a VOLUNTARY evacuation order:

  • Fort Bend County LID #2
  • Fort Bend County LID #10
  • Fort Bend County LID #11
  • Fort Bend County LID #14
  • Fort Bend County LID #15
  • Fort Bend County LID #17
  • Fort Bend County LID #179
  • First Colony LID #2
  • Pecan Grove MUD
  • Sienna Plantation

Judge Hebert reiterated that, “If you are in a Mandatory Evacuation zone, please leave. If you don’t, you may be in danger and we may not be able to help. If you are in a Voluntary Evacuation zone, take steps to protect yourself, your family and your property and be ready to lose service and mobility for an extended period of time if you choose to shelter in place. In any case, begin your preparation now. Take steps now to keep safe.”

If you are under a mandatory evacuation order, take the following steps:

  • Determine a safe evacuation route
  • Pack essential items including medicine, important documents, and first aid kits
  • Take your pets (and pet food) with you
  • Secure your home by locking all doors and windows
  • Leave as soon as you are instructed to leave

Also be aware that mandatory evacuation orders are already in place for areas along the Brazos River that were impacted by the Memorial Day 2016 flood, and for low lying areas of the San Bernard River. There are also evacuations in place from the cities of Rosenberg, Richmond, and Simonton and a voluntary evacuation for areas around the Barker Reservoir.

If you are in a voluntary evacuation area, be sure you are comfortable staying put for several days and that you have enough food, water and other supplies to last at least a week.

There are shelters in the area. Contact the Fort Bend County Office of Emergency Management at 281-342-6185 to find a shelter. Red Cross shelter information can be found online: http://www.redcross.org/get-help/disaster-relief-and-recovery-services/find-an-open-shelter  

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Public Information Officer
Fort Bend County Emergency Operations Center
281-342-6185

 

Comunicado de Prensa – Orden de Evacuación

Augusto 28, 2017

FORT BEND COUNTY, TX – Los Funcionarios del Condado de Fort Bend y el Centro de Operaciones de Emergencia han estado monitoreando de cerca el nivel del agua en el Río Brazos. El pronóstico del Servicio Meteorológico Nacional indica que el Río Brazos crecerá algún día el martes 29 de agosto en la tarde o temprano en la noche a una elevación de cincuenta y nueve pies en el indicador de Richmond.

El juez Hebert dijo que “… una inundación de esta magnitud es un evento de 800 años y excede las especificaciones de diseño de nuestros diques, y es potencialmente peligroso para una buena porción del condado de Fort Bend. Un nivel de río de cincuenta y nueve pies amenaza con sobrepasar muchos de los diques en nuestra área. Como resultado, estoy ordenando evacuaciones voluntarias y obligatorias para muchos de los distritos de mejoramiento de diques a lo largo del río Brazos, basados ??en todos los hechos específicos relacionados con cada dique. ”

Una evacuación voluntaria significa que usted debe considerar salir para un área más segura. Existe la posibilidad de que las aguas circundantes de las inundaciones puedan obstaculizar su capacidad de entrar y salir de su vecindario. Usted puede estar atrapado en su vecindario por varios días.

Una evacuación obligatoria significa que hay riesgo para la vida y la seguridad, así como la propiedad. También hay un riesgo para las vidas de los primeros respondedores que podrían ser llamados a rescatarlo cuando se materialice el peligro esperado. Durante una emergencia de evacuación obligatoria, el personal NO podrá responder a sus llamadas de ayuda. Usted estará en su propio. No puedes confiar en la ayuda de otros.

Una evacuación obligatoria indica la posibilidad de peligro para su vida. Le instamos a no ignorarlo. Si usted está en una zona de evacuación obligatoria, haga lo más inteligente: salga y esté a salvo. La policía local y la oficina del sheriff del condado de Fort Bend patrullarán las áreas evacuadas.

Levante el mapa interactivo para averiguar si su residencia está en el área de evacuación: https://fbcgis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=d1a054f74789410bbe35bed305c81841 

Las siguientes áreas están bajo una orden de evacuación OBLIGATORIA:

  • Primera Colonia LID # 1
  • Condado de Fort Bend LID # 20
  • Condado de Fort Bend LID # 6
  • Condado de Fort Bend LID # 7
  • Fort Bend County MUD # 115
  • Fort Bend County MUD # 46
  • Fort Bend County MUD # 49
  • Distrito Municipal de Servicios Públicos # 121
  • Palmer Plantation # 1
  • Palmer Plantation # 2

Las siguientes áreas están bajo una orden de evacuación VOLUNTARIA:

  • Condado de Fort Bend LID # 2
  • Condado de Fort Bend LID # 10
  • Condado de Fort Bend LID # 11
  • Condado de Fort Bend LID # 14
  • Condado de Fort Bend LID # 15
  • Condado de Fort Bend LID # 17
  • Condado de Fort Bend LID # 179
  • Primera Colonia LID # 2
  • Pecan Grove MUD
  • Sienna Plantation

El juez Hebert reiteró que: “Si usted está en una zona de Evacuación Obligatoria, por favor, vaya. Si no lo hace, puede estar en peligro y es posible que no podamos ayudar. Si usted está en una zona de Evacuación Voluntaria, tome medidas para protegerse a sí mismo, a su familia ya su propiedad y estar listo para perder el servicio y la movilidad por un período prolongado de tiempo si decide refugiarse en su lugar. En cualquier caso, comience su preparación ahora. Tome medidas ahora para mantenerse a salvo.

Si está bajo una orden de evacuación obligatoria, tome las siguientes medidas:

  • Determinar una ruta de evacuación segura
  • Empaque los artículos esenciales incluyendo la medicina, los documentos importantes, y los botiquines de primeros auxilios
  • Lleve consigo a sus mascotas (y comida para mascotas)
  • Asegure su casa cerrando todas las puertas y ventanas
  • Salga tan pronto como se le indique que se vaya

También tenga en cuenta que las órdenes de evacuación obligatorias ya están en vigor para las áreas a lo largo del río Brazos que fueron impactadas por la inundación del Día del Memorial Day 2016 y para las áreas bajas del río San Bernard. También hay evacuaciones en el lugar de las ciudades de Rosenberg, Richmond y Simonton y una evacuación voluntaria para las áreas alrededor del embalse de Barker.

Si se encuentra en un área de evacuación voluntaria, asegúrese de que se sienta cómodo durante varios días y que tenga suficientes alimentos, agua y otros suministros para durar al menos una semana.

Hay refugios en la zona. Comuníquese con la Oficina de Administración de Emergencias del Condado de Fort Bend al 281-342-6185 para encontrar un refugio. La información sobre el refugio de la Cruz Roja puede encontrarse en línea: http://www.redcross.org/get-help/disaster-relief-and-recovery-services/find-an-open-shelter 

PARA MAS INFORMACION CONTACTE:

Oficial de Información Pública

Centro de Operaciones de Emergencia del Condado de Fort Bend 281-342-6185

 

 

 

 

All JP Dockets Postponed

All dockets and jury trial settings scheduled for this week for all Justice of the Peace Courts in Fort Bend County are postponed.

All required filings will be accepted without penalty in accordance with the Order of the Texas Supreme Court. All parties will be notified by mail of the new settings.

County Holiday | Offices Closed
All Fort Bend County offices are closed. Holiday schedule.
(Law enforcement and emergency services agencies remain on duty)
County Holiday | Offices Closed
All Fort Bend County offices are closed. Holiday schedule.
(Law enforcement and emergency services agencies remain on duty)
County Holiday | Offices Closed

County Holiday | Offices Closed

All Fort Bend County offices are closed. Holiday schedule.
(Law enforcement and emergency services agencies remain on duty)


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