HomeMunicipal Court

Municipal Court

The City of Hunters Creek Village Municipal Court

is Conducting In-Person Hearings.

Measures are being taken for safety, including social distancing to protect all court participants.

Due to social distancing, you may not be allowed to bring a friend or family member into the court room with you, with the exception of defendants 16 years of age or younger.

If you have questions regarding your in-person appearance, please contact the Court at 713-465-5646 or email:  court@cityofhunterscreek.com.

Regular business hours: Monday – Friday from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm.

COVID-19 Municipal Court Operating Plan

Court Personnel

Presiding Judge Gary Maddox

Associate Judge Anita James

Associate Judge Mark Easley

Associate Judge Adam Voyles

Prosecutor Lora Lenzsch

The Municipal Court is located in the Hunters Creek Village City Hall near the intersection of Beinhorn and Brogden Roads. Exit the Katy Freeway at Bingle/Voss, go south on Voss Road to Beinhorn Road, (first traffic light) and turn right. Go to Brogden Road (first stop sign) and turn right. Go to the second driveway on the right and turn into the parking lot at City Hall.

Court office hours are Monday through Friday, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.  Doors Open at 5:30 pm for 6:00 pm Court Dockets.

Court appearance dates and times are as indicated on citations. The court-room doors will open one half hour before court.

Contact the Court Clerk at: 713-465-5646, 713-465-8357 (fax), or court@cityofhunterscreek.com

Purpose and Mission

The City’s Municipal Court is the judicial branch of the government of the City of Hunters Creek Village. The City’s Municipal Court provides an accessible legal forum for individuals to have their court matters heard in a fair and efficient manner, while providing a high level of integrity, professionalism, and customer service. Court services are increasingly available online, by telephone, email, and through the mail.

The City’s Municipal Court adjudicate Class C misdemeanor cases most of which are criminal, including traffic, city ordinance, state code, juvenile, and disabled parking.

The Municipal Court is responsible for the collection of fines, fees, and State costs: filing citations/complaints; court scheduling; issuing, tracking, and clearing warrants; maintaining court records and reporting collection, conviction, and statistical data to the appropriate State agencies.

Go to Top

Citation Information

Fines and court costs may be paid by mail or in person at least one day prior to a scheduled appearance. Payments made by mail can be made in the form of a personal check, money order or cashier’s check. Payments made in person may be made in the form of cash, personal check, money order, cashier’s check, MasterCard, Visa, Discover, American Express. Payments can also be made on-line at www.trafficpayment.com, or you can call 1-800-444-1187.

Persons charged with a moving violation resulting in an accident must appear, and persons sixteen years of age or younger must appear in court with one or both parents.

A second or subsequent conviction of an offense under the Texas Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility Act will result in the suspension of your driver’s license and motor vehicle registration unless you file and maintain proof of financial responsibility with the Department of Public Safety for two years from the date of convictions. The Department may waive the requirement to file proof of financial responsibility if you file satisfactory evidence with the department showing that at the time this citation was issued, the vehicle was covered by a liability insurance policy or that you were otherwise exempt from the requirements to provide evidence of financial responsibility.

Failure to appear in court, as provided by law, for the presentation of the offense, may result in denial of driver’s license renewal and a warrant of arrest will be issued. Motions of Continuances or Resets must be done in person, at least one day prior to your scheduled court date.  Resets are not allowed by phone.

Defendant Rights

Your signature on the citation you have received is not a plea of guilty. You have the right to:

  • Appear in court and contest the charges filed against you
  • Have a trial by either a judge or jury

Go to Top

Court Appearances

Arraignments and Trials begin promptly at the time indicated on the citation. The Presiding Judge will address the court and give instructions. Please be sure to turn off all beepers and telephones before entering the courtroom. Handguns are not allowed in the building that houses the courtroom.

Resets are not allowed by phone.   You must appear in the clerk’s office at least one (1) business day prior to your court date, with identification.  You may reschedule your original court date only one time.

Persons who have been charged, may enter their plea on the charge in one of three ways:

  • Guilty. Pay fine and costs.
  • Not Guilty. You are requesting a trial. You must see the prosecutor before leaving the building to get a trial date and time.
  • No Contendre. (no contest). You have opted to not contest the charge and the punishment is at the discretion of the court.
If you have been charged with failure to provide proof of financial responsibility and you did have insurance or its equivalent on the date/time you received the citation, show the proof to the court. Upon verification, that case will be dismissed. There is no administrative fee for financial responsibility.
Bring money to court with you. Payment of fines are expected on the court date.
Compliance Dismissals with Proof of Correction:

These charges, if corrected within twenty working days of the date of the citation or before the date of your first appearance whichever comes first, may present proof of compliance prior to your court date at the clerk’s office or appear in court to see the judge for consideration under the law for dismissal and if dismissed a administrative fee of not less than $10 nor greater than $20, based on the Transportation Code Statue dealing with that specific charge. This fee must be paid immediately to the clerk at the time of dismissal.

Expired Motor Vehicle Registration (late penalty fee must be paid at county assessor-collector) Administrative Fee $20.00
Expired Drivers License Administrative Fee $20.00
Fail to Display Drivers License Administrative Fee $10.00
Fail to Report Address Change or Name Administrative Fee $20.00
Operate Vehicle with Defective Equipment (does not apply to Commercial Motor Vehicle) Administrative Fee $10.00

If you are assessed a fine and court costs as a result of this citation and you are unable to pay, bring this to the attention of the judge. If you are determined by the court to have insufficient resources or income to pay, the court may provide alternative ways to satisfy the judgement. 

Go to Top

Driving Safety Courses

You may be able to request that a moving violation be dismissed by taking a driving safety course. In order to be eligible for the driving safety course, you must:

  • Have a valid Texas operator’s license.
  • Have liability insurance or other proof of financial responsibility.
  • You may not have had a driving safety course taken for ticket dismissal within one year of your court appearance or be presently authorized to take a driving safety course by another court.
  • If you are charged with speeding 25 miles or more over the posted limit, you are not eligible for a driving safety course.
  • If you have a commercial driver’s license, you are not eligible for a “DSC.”
  • If you are charged with a moving violation in a construction zone and workers are present, you are not eligible for DSC or Deferred Disposition.

However, you will lose the right to take a driving safety course if you do not provide notice to the court in writing on or before the appearance date shown on the citation. The combined court costs and administrative fee of $144.00, driver’s license for identification and evidence of financial responsibility shall be submitted along with a signed request to take a driving safety course in order to obtain permission of the court. Once the request has been received and accepted, you will have 90 days in order to complete the course and turn in all necessary paperwork. Further instructions are given at the time the request is made.

Failure to appear in court, as provided by law, for the presentation of the offense, may result in denial of driver’s license renewal and a warrant of arrest will be issued.

Go to Top

Court Conduct / Dress Code

Under the inherent power and duty of all Texas courts as codified in Section 21.002, Government Code, the following Rules of Decorum shall apply and govern all proceedings before the Municipal Court.

CONDUCT REQUIRED OF ALL PERSONS WHILE ATTENDING COURT.

While the Court is in session there shall be:
A. No reading of newspapers or magazines
B. No loud noises or talking (this includes profane, vulgar, abusive, or indecent language)
C. No food or beverages
D. No gestures, facial expressions, or sounds indicating approval or disapproval.
E. No inappropriate attire. No shorts or cut-offs; No low-cut blouses or tops; No skirts or dresses that are short; no muscle shirts or shirts without sleeves, clothing with offensive, vulgar, racist, sexist, obscene, lewd, or suggestive words, slogans, depictions, or pictures; No clothing too tight, too short, too baggy, or pants worn below the waistline.
F. No weapons of any type
G. No unattended children, all children must remain quiet.
H. No Cell phones or pagers (Cellular phones and Pagers must be off or they will be confiscated)
I. No hats, caps, bandanas, sunglasses or any headgear, except with permission of the judge.
J. If you are intoxicated/under the influence, by Alcohol or Drugs you will not be permitted to see the judge, and could be arrested.