Vestavia Hills Municipal Court

Vestavia Hills Municipal Court cases in Jefferson County, Vestavia Hills, AL

Vestavia Hills Municipal Court is a municipal court with limited jurisdiction that handles violations of the City of Vestavia Hills' ordinances and certain state-law misdemeanors adopted by ordinance occurring within the city or its police jurisdiction. It processes arraignments, trials, and sentencing for non-felony offenses. Common case types include traffic and parking violations, DUI and other misdemeanor traffic offenses, misdemeanor criminal offenses (e.g., theft, disorderly conduct, harassment), and municipal code/property maintenance violations. The court does not hear civil or family-law matters, and it does not handle felony cases. Felonies and larger civil actions are addressed in Alabama's state district or circuit courts. Appeals from this municipal court generally go to the appropriate Alabama circuit court for a trial de novo.

Vestavia Hills Municipal Court Contact and Location Information

Services and Case Types Handled in Vestavia Hills Municipal Court

Vestavia Hills Municipal Court serves the public by handling municipal ordinance and misdemeanor offenses occurring within city limits, including traffic citations, DUI (misdemeanor), shoplifting/theft 3rd, disorderly conduct, public intoxication, and parking violations.

Key services:
- Case filings and magistrate services: accept complaints/citations, issue warrants/summons, process bonds, continuances, fine/fee payments, restitution, subpoenas, and provide records/certifications.
- Court hearings: arraignments, plea dockets, bench trials, probation/compliance reviews, failure-to-appear and warrant-recall proceedings.
- Programs: traffic school or court-referral/compliance options when applicable.
- Protective orders: Protection-from-Abuse petitions are filed in county circuit court; the municipal court may impose no-contact orders in related criminal cases and offer victim-assistance referrals.
- Jury services: Municipal cases are tried by a judge; jury trials are available only by appeal to the county circuit court.