Municipal Court - Frequently Asked Questions

I received a citation / ticket from a Sandy Springs police officer – what do I need to do now?

Your court date (known as an arraignment date) is listed at the bottom of the front page of the citation. This is the date by which you are required to either appear in court or pay your fine. If you choose to pay prior to your court date, you can make a payment online or by appearing in person at Municipal Court. Please note that there is a 5%+$5.00 surcharge for online/phone payments and a 5% surcharge for credit/debit card payments in person. Citations are typically processed and available for payment within 5-10 calendar days of your violation.

How do I pay my fine?

Citations are typically processed and available for payment within 7-10 calendar days of your violation. You may  pay online, or you may pay in person at Municipal Court Services. Online payments must be made by credit/debit card. Please note that there is a 5%+$5.00 surcharge for online/phone payments and a 5% surcharge for credit/debit card payments in person. Acceptable methods of in-person payment are Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, Cash, Money Order, and Cashier’s Check.

Can I pay my ticket before the court date and keep from having to go to court?

If the violation is not a “must appear” offense, you may pay the fine to avoid an appearance in court. By paying the fine, you are entering a plea of guilty, which will be recorded by the court and, in the case of traffic offenses, the Georgia Department of Driver Services. Citations are typically processed and available for payment online within 7-10 calendar days of your violation. Online payments must be made at least 24 hours prior to your court date. You may also pay in person by 5:00 p.m. on your court date. If you fail to pay your fine by one of these methods and do not appear in court on your court date, you may be issued a Failure to Appear warrant.

What can I expect if I appear in court for my arraignment date?

Please view the Preparing for your Court Appearance page to learn what to expect.

How can I change my court date?

If a defendant is unable to appear in court at the date and time provided to them, they may request a continuance. If the Court grants their request, the defendant will be issued a new court date. A defendant may only request a continuance one time.

The defendant may also request for their new court date to be virtual and attend via a mobile device or computer.

Please use the New Court Date Request form.

What is a "must appear" offense?

Must Appear offenses are those for which a defendant is required to appear before the judge in court. Examples include, but are not limited to, DUI, Possession of Marijuana, Disorderly Conduct, Suspended License, Suspended Registration, Aggressive Driving, City Code violations, and No Insurance.

What if I want to plead not guilty and have a trial?

If you plead not guilty, you will be given the option of having a jury trial (in Fulton County State Court) or a non-jury trial by our judge in the Sandy Springs Municipal Court. Your trial will not be on the arraignment day (initial court appearance); you will be given another date so that all witnesses, including the officer, may be subpoenaed to testify in the trial.

Do I need an attorney to represent my case?

It is not necessary to hire an attorney to represent you; however, you may hire an attorney to represent your case and have them file an entry of appearance with the court. If you are unable to afford an attorney and would like one, you may be interviewed by the Judge during your arraignment (initial court appearance) to see if you qualify under federal guidelines to have an attorney appointed to represent your case.

How do I obtain or request a copy of my accident or police report?

Accident reports may be obtained through the police department. Call (770) 551-6900 or visit the Sandy Springs Police Department at 7840 Roswell Road, Building 300 / Sandy Springs, GA 30350

How do I receive a trial by jury?

If you request a trial by jury, your case will be transferred to the Superior Court of Fulton County. Only state misdemeanor charges can be transferred for jury trials. No Sandy Springs City Ordinance violations may be transferred - they must first be tried in Sandy Springs Municipal Court by operation of law

How do I appeal the judge's decision?

If you do not agree with the judge's decision of your case you may appeal it through the Superior Court of Fulton County. Contact the clerk's office in Fulton County Superior Court for further information by calling (404) 613-5313.

Are foreign language interpreters available?

Interpreters are provided for all non-English speaking defendants. If you require translation for your case, please inform the clerk's office prior to the court date by calling (770) 206-2075.