Trials - Infractions & Ordinances

Trials will be scheduled approximately sixty (60) days from the entry of a denial.  Infraction violation trials are held Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 8:30am EST (excluding holidays).  City Ordinance trials are held on the first and second Tuesdays of each month at 10:30am EST (excluding holidays).

You may hire an attorney if you want to be represented by one at the trial, but you do not need to hire an attorney.  You may represent yourself.  If you do hire an attorney, you need to do that far enough in advance of the trial date so as not to cause a delay in the trial.  Public defenders are not assigned to Infraction or Ordinance violation cases.

At the trial, the officer who issued the ticket and/or other witnesses will testify. You will have the opportunity to cross-examine, or ask the officer  and/or other witnesses questions about their testimony after they have given it. You will also be allowed to testify on your own behalf; you can tell the Judge your side of what happened. All testimony must be given under oath or affirmation to be considered.  You may also present other evidence on your own behalf, including photographs, diagrams, written documents, and the testimony of other witnesses who have first-hand knowledge of the facts at issue.

The Prosecutor (City Attorney for ordinances) has the burden of proving that you committed the offense(s) with which you are charged by a preponderance of the evidence.  You DO NOT have to be proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. That means that enough evidence must be admitted in Court for the Judge to find that it is more likely than not that you committed the offense(s) with which you are charged. If the Prosecutor or City Attorney meets that burden of proof, a judgment will be entered against you, fines and/or court costs will be assessed, and, if your offense is a traffic offense, the judgment will be certified to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.  If the Prosecutor or City Attorney does not meet that burden of proof, a judgment will be entered in your favor and no fines or court costs will be imposed.

If fines and/or court costs are imposed, you may request that you be permitted to delay your payment.  If you do not pay on time, the Court will certify your failure to pay to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, and your driving privileges will be suspended.

If you cannot appear for your trial and you want a continuance (postponement), you may request that continuance at least ten (10) business days before trial. You must have a good reason for your continuance and it must be stated in a written continuance request. That written continuance request must be delivered to the City Clerk in person, by mail, or by fax so that the Court receives is at least ten (10) business days before the scheduled trial date. Generally speaking, the Court will only allow one continuance to the person charged, and one to the Prosecutor or City Attorney.

If you do not appear at your trial, the Judge is permitted by law to enter a default judgment against you and impose fines and/or court costs, which you will be required to pay.  For traffic offenses, the Court will certify the default judgment to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and your driving privileges may be suspended.

 

HOW TO DENY YOUR CHARGE(S) <PLEAD NOT GUILTY>:

You may deny your charge(s) <plead not guilty> by one of the following methods:

1. Appear in Terre Haute City Court on your court date.  City Court begins at 8:30am for Infraction and Misdemeanor cases.  Ordinance Court is held the first and second Tuesday of each month at 10:30am.  You must appear at the time listed above for your court case type.  You may find your court date listed on your citation or check mycase.in.gov (it will be listed as an appear by date or a hearing date).  Please check in with City Clerk's Office when you arrive.

 

2.  Hire an attorney to represent you before your court date or have your attorney appear with you on your scheduled court date at 8:30am for Misdemeanor and Infraction cases and 10:30am the first and second Tuesday of each month for Ordinance cases in Terre Haute City Court.

3.  You may submit your denial electronically.  Please CLICK HERE to read more about this process and click on INSTRUCTIONS ON SUBMITTING MOTIONS PRO SE.

4.  Submit a document detailing your wish to deny your charge(s) <plead not guilty> prior to your court date.  You may bring the document to the City Clerk's Office or mail your document to the City Clerk's Office.

Mailing Address:  17 Harding Avenue, Terre Haute, IN  47807

Be sure to include in your document:

Your case number or UTT number

Full name

Current address

Date of Birth

Reason for request (i.e. plead not guilty and wish to proceed to trial)

You may NOT email your denial to the Clerk's Office!

You may NOT fax your denial to the Clerk's Office!

Trials - Infractions & Ordinances

Trials will be scheduled approximately sixty (60) days from the entry of a denial.  Infraction violation trials are held Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 8:30am EST (excluding holidays).  City Ordinance trials are held on the first and second Tuesdays of each month at 10:30am EST (excluding holidays).

You may hire an attorney if you want to be represented by one at the trial, but you do not need to hire an attorney.  You may represent yourself.  If you do hire an attorney, you need to do that far enough in advance of the trial date so as not to cause a delay in the trial.  Public defenders are not assigned to Infraction or Ordinance violation cases.

At the trial, the officer who issued the ticket and/or other witnesses will testify. You will have the opportunity to cross-examine, or ask the officer  and/or other witnesses questions about their testimony after they have given it. You will also be allowed to testify on your own behalf; you can tell the Judge your side of what happened. All testimony must be given under oath or affirmation to be considered.  You may also present other evidence on your own behalf, including photographs, diagrams, written documents, and the testimony of other witnesses who have first-hand knowledge of the facts at issue.

The Prosecutor (City Attorney for ordinances) has the burden of proving that you committed the offense(s) with which you are charged by a preponderance of the evidence.  You DO NOT have to be proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. That means that enough evidence must be admitted in Court for the Judge to find that it is more likely than not that you committed the offense(s) with which you are charged. If the Prosecutor or City Attorney meets that burden of proof, a judgment will be entered against you, fines and/or court costs will be assessed, and, if your offense is a traffic offense, the judgment will be certified to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.  If the Prosecutor or City Attorney does not meet that burden of proof, a judgment will be entered in your favor and no fines or court costs will be imposed.

If fines and/or court costs are imposed, you may request that you be permitted to delay your payment.  If you do not pay on time, the Court will certify your failure to pay to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, and your driving privileges will be suspended.

If you cannot appear for your trial and you want a continuance (postponement), you may request that continuance at least ten (10) business days before trial. You must have a good reason for your continuance and it must be stated in a written continuance request. That written continuance request must be delivered to the City Clerk in person, by mail, or by fax so that the Court receives is at least ten (10) business days before the scheduled trial date. Generally speaking, the Court will only allow one continuance to the person charged, and one to the Prosecutor or City Attorney.

If you do not appear at your trial, the Judge is permitted by law to enter a default judgment against you and impose fines and/or court costs, which you will be required to pay.  For traffic offenses, the Court will certify the default judgment to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and your driving privileges may be suspended.