North Austin News

The Austin Municipal Court (AMC) is set to celebrate Municipal Courts Week from November 4-8, 2024. This event honors court staff and highlights the public services they provide. As part of the celebration, AMC will host information tables at Hope Fest and City Hall to offer assistance and information to the community.

Kim Wingard, Deputy Clerk of the Court, emphasized the importance of municipal courts in providing first-hand interaction with the judicial system. "For many people, the first direct interaction with the judicial system is with a municipal court,” Wingard stated. “At Austin Municipal Court, we want people to feel that they have been listened to and treated fairly when they come to us so that we can build trust between the Court and the community.”

AMC encourages residents of Austin to use this week as an opportunity to learn more about their services, including options for resolving civil parking citations. Isaac Hernandez, Hearing Officer and supervisor of the Civil Administration unit, highlighted parking issues in Austin. "In 2024, the Court saw an average of about 18,000 parking cases a month filed by various agencies throughout the city," Hernandez said. He explained that while AMC's role is primarily adjudicative, they strive to ensure customers know their options for contesting citations in person, via email or virtually.

Hernandez also noted that even after a citation's contest period has expired under ordinance rules, AMC works with individuals on payment plans to avoid vehicle booting or towing. "Municipal Court Week is a great time to check in and see if we can help,” he added.

During this week-long event, AMC will set up an information table at Hope Fest on November 2nd from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., followed by another at City Hall on Election Day, November 5th from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The public is invited to meet court staff and receive guidance on traffic safety and court services.

For further details on Municipal Court Week or other court services provided by AMC, interested individuals can call 512-974-4800 or visit their website at austintexas.gov/court.