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Municipal Court

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1. How do I make payment arrangements?

If your ticket is not in collections the court can schedule payments on a fine or penalty by visiting the clerk’s office during regular office hours and scheduling a payment agreement. The minimum monthly payment is usually $50 per month. If you opt to pay rather than appear for your hearing, you must contact the court prior to your hearing to make arrangements.  

2. How do I quash my Puyallup Municipal Court warrant?

Posting the bail or bond (from a licensed bond agent who appears at the Clerk's Office for you) in the amount listed on your warrant is the most immediate way to have the warrant recalled from the system. This will clear any pending suspension action by Department of Licensing (if this is a criminal traffic case). Once the cash bail or bond is posted, it is held in trust until your next court date or until the judge orders it be released. Bail or bond may be posted at the Clerk's front counter (929 E Main, Puyallup) during regular office hours which are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m.

In most cases if you are unable to post the total bail or obtain a bond and a public defender has been appointed to your case please contact your attorney. If you are not represented by counsel you may report to the clerk’s office and upon verification of your address and authorization of the judge, the clerk will assign you a warrant quash date. It is important to remember with this option the warrant remains in the system until the day you appear before the judge. Be aware of the possibility the warrant could be served upon you in the interim while awaiting your quash date. The last option is to surrender yourself to the Puyallup Jail located at 311 W Pioneer in downtown Puyallup. You will be seen in custody on the next judicial day.

3. Is Milton Municipal Court also at the Puyallup Court location?

Yes. In 2013 Puyallup assumed court services for the City of Milton. Court hearings and payments for Milton Court are also processed at the 929 E Main, Puyallup location.

4. I’ve received a summons letter for jury duty. How do I request an excusal?

To be eligible for jury service in Puyallup or Milton Courts, you must have an address within Puyallup or Milton (depending on the court which has summoned you), must be 18 years of age or older, be a U.S. citizen, have the ability to understand and speak English, and have no convictions for a felony. If any of these criteria are not met, notify the jury clerk by email or letter of the situation.

To be excused from jury service, you must demonstrate that serving jury duty would be a hardship. Statute requires this be done in writing (email or letter) providing the reason / s you are unable to serve. You may do this also online on the Court's website.  The jury clerk will notify you whether or not you have been excused. Employment is generally not considered a reason to be excused from jury duty.  For more information review

Jury Duty page.

5. What happens if I’ve missed my court date?

If you've missed a court date for a minor traffic offense (mitigation or contested hearing) and payment has not been received, the failure to appear is reported to Department of Licensing and the case is placed into a collection process. Receipt of full payment or signing a payment agreement immediately following a non-appearance will adjudicate the pending suspension action by Department of Licensing. If you wish to reschedule a missed hearing, a letter should be submitted to the court as only the judge has the authority to authorize a new hearing date.

6. What if my fine is in collections?

The primary collection agent for both Puyallup and Milton Courts is Dynamic Collections located at 790 So Market Boulevard, Chehalis, WA 98532. Their phone number is: 1-800-464-3457. There may be some cases prior to 2016 which may be listed with Puget Sound Collections at 1019 Regents Boulevard, Suite 101,Tacoma, WA 98464. Their number is: 1-800-922-8932. The clerk's office can advise you which agency to contact. If your ticket is in collections and you feel there are compelling reasons that caused a late response or non appearance, you may submit a letter of “show cause” to the judge for consideration pursuant to IRLJ (Infraction Rules for Courts of Limited Jurisdiction) 3.2(b).

7. What is a red light camera ticket?

Red light camera infractions are processed similar to parking violations. They are not reported to Department of Licensing and do not appear on your driving record. They can however delay renewal of your vehicle tabs if unpaid. The rules in responding to red light violations are the same as a traffic infraction. You must respond within 18 days to the notice either by
1) sending payment;
2) requesting a hearing; or
3) submitting the Declaration that’s attached to your notice.

Please note, if you submit the Declaration it generally takes 3 - 4 weeks for review and response.

8. What is community service and where do I perform it?

Community service involves volunteering time for a non-profit organization as a mandatory condition of your sentence (court ordered), or done in lieu of court fines (portions of your fees and costs may not be eligible for community service). It can be completed for any non-profit, tax-exempt organization of your choice, i.e. food banks, churches, Good Will, United Way, etc. It is important to note most assisted living or nursing home facilities do not qualify as non-profit. Community service is generally accepted in lieu of fines for traffic infractions, however, on criminal violations it must be authorized by the judge. The verification form required as proof of completion of your community service can be found under the court’s Forms section of the webpages, or they are available at the clerk’s front counter.

9. Where is Puyallup & Milton Municipal Court located?

The court is located at 929 E Main in Puyallup, in an area known as the Puyallup Executive Park (blue glass buildings). The Clerk's Office and courtrooms are located on the ground floor of the 929 E Main building.

10. How do I apply for a public defender?

The application for a public defender is made available to you during your first court appearance (arraignment) or online under the Court Forms area of the Municipal Court's webpages. You must complete the application and be screened to determine if you qualify for an attorney. Applications are accepted at the Clerk’s Office front counter during regular office hours on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Please assist the clerk in this process by bringing the financial information required or noted in the application.

11. What online classes are accepted?

Consumer Awareness, Parenting Classes, and Defensive Driving Level 1 only.

12. I cannot appear at my court date. Can I reset it?

If you have a non-criminal traffic matter, you can appear in person at the counter before the scheduled date to request a new court date. This can only be done once. If you have a criminal matter, you cannot reschedule your court date.

13. How do I get my driver's license reinstated?

• If your driving privileges are suspended, the state Department of Licensing explains how to get your license reinstated.
• If you just paid a ticket that was in collections that suspended your license, the court will not release the hold until payment has been received from the collection agency. This can take 3-5 business days for payments made by credit/debit, or 10 business days for payments made by check. The process may be expedited by calling the court.
• Please be advised the court does not notify agencies out of state, as your Washington driving record is property of the state Department of Licensing, not the court.

14. Does a photo ticket go on my driving record?

No, photo enforcement tickets for red light and school zone violations are NOT reported to Department of Licensing and will not become a part of your driving record.

15. How can I search for a person for their custody status and location?

VINELink

16. How do I get help for Domestic Violence?

• Pierce County YWCA 24-Hour Helpline (253) 383-2593.
• Crystal Judson Family Justice Center 24-Hour Helpline (253) 798-4166 or (800) 764-2420.
• Victim Information & Notification Everyday (VINE) Program can help you know when an offender is being released.
• Protection or Anti-Harassment Orders are generated from Pierce County Superior Court.
• Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence

17. How do I vacate a conviction or delete criminal history?

• Guide to sealing court records, vacating convictions & deleting criminal history records

18. Can we get married at your court?

• First, please obtain a marriage license from the Pierce County Auditor’s Office, located at the Pierce County Annex in Tacoma.
• To schedule a wedding, call the court: (253) 841-5450 and press 8 to speak to a court clerk. Judge Andrea Beall will contact you to verify a date and time.

19. Can I file for divorce at your court?

No, divorce proceedings are handled at Pierce County Superior Court.