Mayor's Court - General Information
Welcome to the City of Reading Mayor's Court
The purpose of the Reading Mayor's Court is to provide the community with a local judicial forum to rule on misdemeanor traffic and criminal cases that are alleged to be in violation of the City of Reading Codified Ordinances.
Reading Mayor's Court is conducted the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Tuesday of every month at 3:00 p.m. at the:
City of Reading Municipal Building 2nd Floor Council Chambers
1000 Market Street
Reading, Ohio 45215
513-733-5768
513-733-5226 (FAX)
Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Closed: Holidays and Weekends
Kirk Terrell, Clerk of Courts
Email
Kevin C. McDonough, Magistrate
David T. Stevenson, Prosecutor
For more information, please look at the helpful links below:
Payout your citation online
Fine Schedule and Payout Information
Mayor's Court - Frequently Asked Questions
The Mayor's Court Clerk of Courts Office can help you with the following information:
- Understanding how the court works
- Help you reschedule court dates
- Help direct you to other agencies that can provide further assistance, if needed (ex. Bureau of Motor Vehicles)
- Directions to the court
- Information about your case
- Answer questions about monies owed to the court
- Record Sealing
The Mayor's Court Clerk of Courts Office Cannot:
- Give you legal advice
- Fill out forms for you
- Tell you what you should say or write
- Tell you how you should plead your case
- Tell you how the Magistrate may rule in a particular case
What forms of payments are accepted?
The Reading Mayor's Court accepts the following as forms of payment: Cash (exact change), Money Order, Personal Check that is drawn on a local bank, Visa, and Master Card, Discover and American Express. Credit card payments are accepted over the telephone at no additional charge or you can pay online for a small processing fee HERE. Please DO NOT mail cash. Checks should be made out to the “City of Reading”.
What is a "Payout"?
A payout is a minor misdemeanor that carries a fine that can be paid without making a court appearance. The fine is paid to the Violations Bureau on or before your assigned court date at 1:00 p.m. Your citation must accompany the payment. Your citation must also be signed on the back of the citation. If a fine is not paid before your assigned court date, the fine will double. Payouts will not be accepted after 1:00 p.m. on your assigned court date. If you choose to make a court appearance, the payout amount no longer applies. The Magistrate will determine the fine amount and court costs will be added to that amount.
I am not able to appear in Court on the date I have been scheduled, what can I do?
You may obtain one continuance by signing a Time Waiver and your case will be continued until the next court date. Continuances are not given after 1:00 p.m. on the day of court. Please contact the Court Clerk, at 513-733-5768 for a continuance or further information.
My citation is a payout, but I won't have the money to pay by the court date, what can I do?
You may obtain one continuance by signing a Time Waiver and your case will be continued until the next court date. Continuances are not given after 1:00 p.m. on the day of court. Please contact the Court Clerk, at 513-733-5768 for a continuance or further information.
When I appear in Court, I may have enough money to pay the fine and court costs in full, what can I do?
You may be granted extra time to pay your fines and court costs by asking the Magistrate for more than one continuance. The City of Reading Mayor’s Court does not grant “Stays to Pay” a fine. Failure to appear on the continuance date can result in a warrant for your arrest and/or the suspension of your driving privileges and a block against your registration.
I missed my Court date, what can I do?
If you fail to appear on your assigned court date a bench warrant will be issued for your arrest. If you have missed two court dates, a warrant will be issued for your arrest and a $50.00 penalty will be assessed. After thirty days a license forfeiture will be placed on your driving record resulting in a suspension against your driving privileges. Please contact the Court Clerk, at 513-733-5768 for more information on a specific case.
Will I get points on my license?
Most moving violations carry 2 points, other violations such as Reckless Operation or Driving Under Suspension can carry 4 or 6 points. An OVI carries 6 points. These points are reported to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
I did not have my proof of insurance with me at the time of the citation, what can I do?
If you did not have your proof of insurance with you on the date of the citation, proof must be shown to the Clerk of Courts either when paying the citation or appearing in Court. Your insurance must be in effect at the time of your citation and must be for the vehicle in question. You may mail a copy of your insurance card with your citation and payment or you may fax your proof of insurance within 24 hours of payment to 513-733-5226. ATTN: Court Clerk, or email it to the court HERE.
I did not have valid insurance in effect at the time of the citation, what happens now?
The court must report that there was no insurance in effect at the time of the citation to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV). The BMV will place a suspension against your driver's license for a period of 90 days to 2 years depending on prior offenses for driving without insurance. Please visit the BMV website HERE for further information or contact the Court Clerk at 513-733-5768.
What degrees of offenses can the City of Reading Mayor's Court hear?
- Minor Misdemeanor (MM) - No jail time - maximum fine of $150 + costs
- Fourth-degree Misdemeanor (M4) - Jail time of up to 30 days - maximum fine of $250 + costs
- Third-degree Misdemeanor (M3) - Jail time of up to 60 days - maximum fine of $500 + costs
- Second-degree Misdemeanor (M2) - Jail time of up to 90 days - maximum fine of $750 + costs
- First-degree Misdemeanor (M1) - Jail time of up to 180 days 0 maximum fine of $1000 + costs
What happens when I appear in Mayor's Court?
What do the different pleas mean?
What if I want a trial by jury?
If you are charged with an offense that carries a possible fine of more than $150 or that carries the possibility of jail time, you have the right to a jury trial. All jury trials take place in the Hamilton County Municipal Court. The services of an attorney are highly recommended if you wish to present your defense to a jury. Accordingly, if you wish to request a jury trial, you should request a continuance and seek legal assistance immediately. If you do not know whether you are entitled to a jury trial, do not hesitate to ask the Court before you enter a plea to the charge.
Payout Schedule
Notice of Your Rights
Those of you who are here in Court today have been charged with an offense against the Ordinances of the City of Reading Ohio. The Court wants you to be aware of your basic rights and that you are entitled to be informed of:
- The nature of the charges against you; to read the Affidavit or Complaint filed against you, and if you do not understand the nature of the charges, to have them explained to you.
- You have a right to know the identity of the Complainant
- You have the right to be represented by counsel.
- You have a right to a reasonable continuance in the proceedings to secure counsel.
- You have a right to a trial by jury in certain cases, as long as a demand is made in written form.
- You have a right to have a trial within 30 days of the date you were charged.
If you are not represented by counsel and you are before the Court and called upon to plead, you have certain rights.
- You have a right to counsel even if you intend to plead guilty, and the right to a reasonable continuance in the proceedings to secure counsel, pursuant to Criminal Rule 44. The Court may assign counsel to represent you, without cost to yourself if you are unable to employ counsel.
- You have a right to bail, if the offense is eligible for bail.
- You need not make any statement in the proceeding, but any statement can and may be used against you.
- You may plead Guilty, Not Guilty, or No Contest
- A Plea of Guilty is a complete admission of guilt.
- A Plea of No Contest is not an admission of guilt, but is an admission to the truth of the facts alleged in the Complaint. A No Contest Plea cannot be used against you in any subsequent Civil or Criminal Proceeding.
If you enter a Plea of Not Guilty, your case will be set for trial at a later date. You will have the right to present evidence on your own behalf. The City will present its evidence, and this Court will make a judgement as to your guilt or innocence.
Appeal
You have a right of appeal from the ruling of this Court. That appeal must be filed within 10 days of the judgment as provided by Section 1905.23 Ohio Revised Code.
Are you a U.S. Citizen?
If you are not a citizen, a conviction could result in your deportation or denial of citizenship.
I have read and understand this statement of rights. I hereby waive a jury trial and submit and request to be tried by the City of Reading, Ohio, Mayor’s Court. If I enter a plea of Guilty or No Contest, I knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily give up my rights to employ an attorney, or to have one appointed for me. If I enter a plea of Guilty or No Contest, I also give up my rights set forth above, including to have my rights explained to me in open court.
Links
Helpful Links: