Hennepin Violations Bureau & Hearing Office

The Hennepin County Violations Bureau and Hearings & Fines Management Office are located in the Hennepin County Government Center, in downtown Minneapolis, on the Skyway Level past weapons screening. (Address 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 can go to meet with a Hearing Officer to find out if you have any options when it comes to taking care of your ticket. All Hearing Officers work remotely and conduct video hearings. Hearing Officers hold video hearings by appointment. You can also walk in and talk to a Hearing Officer at the downtown Minneapolis location without an appointment by using our onsite video/audio equipment. 

Hearing Officers are no longer available in person at the suburban locations (Brookdale and Ridgedale, addresses below). You can come in person to any location, including the suburban locations, to use our video/audio equipment onsite to attend your video hearing if you do not have equipment of your own.

Schedule a Hearing Officer Appointment

You can call the Court Payment Center (Metro (651) 281-3219, outside the metro 1 (800) 657-3611) to talk to schedule a Hearing Officer appointment. You can also click on the chat button above.

Pay a Fine with the Statewide Court Payment Center:

• Online
• Phone: Metro (651) 281-3219, Outside the metro 1 (800) 657-3611
• Mail: Minnesota Court Payment Center, P.O. Box 898, Willmar MN 56201 (do not mail cash)

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Downtown Minneapolis location:

Division 1 - Hennepin Co. Govt. Center
300 South 6th Street
Skyway Level
Minneapolis, MN 55487
(612) 348-6000 
Map

Suburban Court locations:

Division 2 - Brookdale
6125 Shingle Creek Pkwy
Brooklyn Center, MN 55430
Map

Division 3 - Ridgedale
12601 Ridgedale Drive
3rd Floor
Minnetonka, MN 55305
Map

How can I pay a ticket?
What should I do if the offense is "Court Required?"
Do I need a lawyer if I go to court?
How do I find a lawyer?
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?
How do I get my driver's license back?
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? Visit our Payment Options page to learn how you can pay online, in person, by phone or by mail.

Late Payments: Failure to respond to a citation within thirty (30) days of the date the citation being entered into the court's record system results in late fees and increased penalties. The penalties could include one of the following:

• your driver's license may be SUSPENDED;
• the amount due gets referred to a collection agency that may access non-public government data for the purpose of handling collection;
• a warrant may be issued for your ARREST; or
• failure to pay five or more traffic or parking citations may result in impoundment of your vehicle until the fines are paid.

What should I do if the offense is "Court Required?"
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.

Do I need a lawyer if I go to court?
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.

How can I find a lawyer?
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.

Show your proof of insurance to the court in one of three ways:

• Mail it to: Court Payment Center, P.O. Box 898, Willmar, MN 56201
• Fax it to the Court Payment Center at (320) 231-6507
• Bring your ticket in person, with the proof of insurance, to any of the four District Court locations listed on our main page.

The meter was defective. What do I need to do?
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.

If you have not received a citation but want to inform the city that a meter is defective you may do so at:

• For city of Minneapolis, you can report Minneapolis parking meter problems online or call 311.
• For University of Minnesota meters, call (612) 626-7275.
• For problems with parking meters in other Minnesota cities, contact the City or Town where the meter is located.

I paid to park at an electronic parking meter and still got a ticket. What can I do?
If you got a ticket (citation) at an electronic parking meter and you have a receipt showing that you paid for the space (meter) listed on the ticket, we will check to see if there was a proper payment. Please send us a copy of your receipt and ticket to:

• Email: 4thcitations@courts.state.mn.us; (*Please note: it may take several days to respond to your email), or
• Fax: (612) 348-6268; or
• 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.

How do I get my driver's license back? 
Suspended driver’s license due to unpaid ticket(s)
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.

Revoked driver’s license
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.

I already sent in a check, but it was not enough. What do I need to do?
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.

rt 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.

What is a "street cleaning" violation in Minneapolis?
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.

What does "Snow Emergency" mean?
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.

I was ordered to pay a court fine. How can I pay it?
Criminal Court fines are due the day they are imposed. 
Your fine may be paid online, by phone, or by mail. You can search using your case number to see if it is payable online.  

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).
OR
You may send checks or money orders made out to "District Court Administration" to:

Hennepin County District Court, Criminal Division
Hennepin County Govt. Ctr.
300 S. 6th Street, PSL
Minneapolis, MN 55487 Other Questions?
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).

Types of Tickets & Fines

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).

Payable citations

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.

Administrative citations

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

“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) 348-6000 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.

“Not Guilty” or Cannot Afford to Pay a Ticket

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.

Terms:

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) 348-6000. 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 and law library fee: Under Minnesota law, surcharges and law library fees may be added to the amount of a fine. Currently, surcharges and law library fees are as follows:

• Surcharge on parking violation = $12.00 MN Statute § 357.021, subd. 6.
• Surcharge on criminal/traffic violation = $75.00MN 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.