If you are a first time traffic offender, you may be eligible for the towns Defensive Driving School program, which may allow you to keep a clean driving record. The Defensive Driving Class may be available to a defendant with no minor moving traffic violations within the past five years and if the defendant has not previously attended a Defensive Driving Class.
Driving school may be offered for defendants charged with moving violations, excluding defendants who possess a Commercial Drivers License.
Any defendant wishing to take driving school must apply for and register in person. Upon completion of the class, the defendant’s charge may be dismissed depending on the Judge’s orders.
If you have a clean driving record you may come in to see the court clerk or magistrate to ask if you can take driving school. At that time we will explain driving school to you. If you have anything on your record , we cannot sign you up for driving school. You will have to come to court and see if the Judge will allow you to take driving school.
Failure To Appear
Make sure you dress appropriately for court. If you have questions about your court
date, please contact the court as soon as possible, but no later than the day before
your scheduled court date.
Traffic Citation
The court appearance date will be at the bottom of the citation in the space marked Court Appearance Date.
Arrests
The court appearance date was given to you at the time you bonded out of jail.
If your citation requires a court appearance, you must appear in court on the date listed on the citation. Some examples of required court appearance citations are driving while revoked or driving while suspended and reckless driving. You will appear before the municipal judge and enter a plea on the charge.
If you plead guilty, the judge will determine your fine amount and you will be expected to pay the citation at that time. If you plead not guilty, your case will be continued to a trial court date. If you do not know whether or not your citation requires a court appearance, you may contact the Eclectic Municipal Court office at 334-580-7025.
Court Appearance Required Citations
OUR STAFF:
JUDGE- M. GUY HOLTON
COURT CLERK & MAGISTRATE- BRENDA THOMAS
ASSISTANT CLERK - ALLY HORNSBY
PROSECUTOR- JIM DEBARDELABEN
COURT ATTORNEY-JEFFREY T. WEBB
BAILIFF- TIM THORNTON
Missed Court Date/Failure to Appear
Missing your court date, even for something as minor as a seat belt ticket, can carry various and severe consequences. Failing to appear on your court date is in itself a criminal charge for which you can be arrested. Failure to appear warrants are issued the same day of each court appearance; there is no grace period for missing court, no additional notices will be sent. These arrest warrants can be served on you at any time, including at your home or at your place of work.
If you placed a bond to get out of jail, your bond may be forfeited if you fail to appear.
If you have a “court appearance not required” citation and would like to take care of it without appearing in court, you may do so by appearing in person at the court office and entering a plea of guilt to the traffic offense. At that time you will pay for the citation. This must be done at least 48 hours in advance of your court date.
You may pay your citation online or remit your plea and payment by mail. We must receive such plea and payment within our Municipal Court office at least 48 hours before your court date. Postmark dates will not be honored as meeting the deadline. You may mail your plea and payment to :
Eclectic Municipal Court
145 Main Street
PO Box 240430
Eclectic, AL 36024
We accept money orders, cashier’s check or credit/debit card for the exact amount.
No personal checks are accepted. If you want a receipt back then you must enclose a self addressed stamped envelope.
Information on how to prepare for
court, pay a traffic citation, and
instruction for driving school are
located below. Scroll down to find
your needed information .
You may pay online at: www.EclecticTix.comor call 1-800-701-8560 to use a debit or credit card.
Please note that they do charge extra fees to use your card and they will need specific information to process the payment, like ticket number and court date. The ticket number is located in the upper right hand corner of the citation. An example of a ticket number is N 5323855.
Coming to Court
About Your Court Date
Court Appearance Not Required Citations
Driving School Information
ECLECTIC MUNICIPAL COURT
PHYSICAL ADDRESS:
145 MAIN ST. ECLECTIC, AL
ECLECTIC, AL 36024
PHONE:
334-580-7025
FAX:
334-541-2854
EMAIL:
Municipalcourt@townofeclectic.com
HOURS:
MONDAY - CLOSED
TUESDAY - FRIDAY 8 AM- 4:00 PM CT
CLOSED 12-1 FOR LUNCH