Misdemeanor cases are criminal in nature. You may represent yourself in the Fort Collins Municipal Court or you may have an attorney represent you. If you are indigent, charged with a misdemeanor type case, and qualify, a defense attorney may be appointed to represent you at no cost to you. If you wish to request court-appointed counsel, you should do so on your first Court date.

The Court date and time listed on your ticket is for your ARRAIGNMENT. If you wish to contest the charge against you, you must appear for arraignment unless you have hired an attorney to enter an appearance for you. If you are late, a $25 Did Not Appear fee may be added. You will have the option of having a pretrial conference, usually that same morning. The purpose of the pretrial conference is to give you the opportunity to discuss your case informally with the City Prosecutor to see if you can reach a plea agreement regarding the disposition of the case. If you reach a plea agreement with the Prosecutor, you can request a continuance to consider the offer before accepting it. If you do not reach a plea agreement, wish to plead NOT GUITLY or do not wish to meet with the prosecutor, your case can be set for two future appearances, a Pretrial Readiness Hearing and trial. Both hearings are required in-person hearings. The trial date will be within 91 days of the day that you pled not guilty.

You may request a jury trial in any Fort Collins Municipal Court case involving a traffic or non-traffic MISDEMEANOR. A request for a jury trial must be made, in writing, within 21 days after the day you plead not guilty. You must also pay a $25.00 jury fee unless that fee is waived by the Court because you are indigent.

A $35.00 court cost will be added to the amount due if you plead guilty or no contest to any charge after arraignment, or if you are found guilty at the end of a trial.

If you live more than 50 miles from Fort Collins or have serious health-related reasons that would make it difficult for you to appear in court, please contact the Fort Collins Municipal Court Clerks’ Office to inquire about what alternative options are available.

The 2023 maximum penalty for misdemeanors filed in the Fort Collins Municipal Court is a fine of $3,000 or 6 months in jail, or both. If a fine or cost is assessed in your Municipal Court case, that amount is due when it is assessed. If you cannot pay the amount due in full at that time without hardship to yourself or your dependent(s), you need to talk with a court clerk about filing a Petition of Indigence or setting up a Payment Plan. A $25 Payment Plan Fee will be added to the total fines and costs due. If you fail to appear for this hearing, a hold may be placed on your license or your case turned over to a collections agency.

If you are charged with a misdemeanor and you fail to appear for your arraignment, pre-trial conference, Bond Return Hearing, or trial, a warrant for your arrest may be issued.

If you need more information, call the Fort Collins Municipal Court Clerks' Office.