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1. Am I required to attend court?

No. You are not required to attend court unless the word "summons" is specified on your citation in the "Fine" column adjacent to the cited violation. "Summons" indicates you have a mandatory court appearance set on the assigned arraignment date as noted in the lower left hand corner of the citation.

If you do not have a specified Summons and instead have a dollar amount specified in the "Fine" column adjacent to the cited violation, you are required to pay your citation prior to your court date or you must attend court on your assigned arraignment date in order to avoid Failure to Appear fines and a possible issuance of a Bench Warrant for your arrest.

2. Does Berthoud offer Traffic School or Useful Public Service In Lieu of points assessed to my license?

Berthoud Municipal Court offers the original plea deal as stated on the front of your citation of paying the citation in full prior to the arraignment date and receiving an reduction from the originally cited violation. The citation will state what the reduction is if paid prior to court.

If you are wanting to make a plea for a further reduction of points through Traffic School or Useful Public Service, you will have to appear in court on your arraignment date to petition your plea with the Town Prosecutor and Judge. Each case is judged on a case by case basis and there is no guarantee your request or plea will be accepted.

3. What if I can not make my court date?

Berthoud Municipal Court will grant you a one-time courtesy continuance to our next month's court date.

Please send your request for continuance by email to the Court.

In your request please include your full name, citation number and that you are requesting a continuance and that you understand that you are waiving your right to a speedy trial.

4. What if I can not pay my fine?

If you are looking for a payment plan, the Judge is the only one who can authorize a payment plan. If you are seeking a payment plan you will have to appear in court on your arraignment date to enter the request for a plan with the Judge. He has the authority to accept as well as deny any request for a payment plan.

5. What is a Default Judgment?

The Court may set aside a judgment entered showing good cause exists. 

The Defendant is given a court date on the citation.  If the Defendant does not appear, a failure to appear is issued to the Defendant for the next court date.

If the Defendant does not appear, then a  Notice of Default Judgment is sent for the next court date.  Failure to appear a default judgment goes into full force and effect and is subject to collection proceedings.

All notices are sent to the address on the citation the Defendant was issued.

6. My court question was not listed here. Where can I get an answer to my question?

Please email the Berthoud Municipal Court Clerk or call the direct line at 970-344-5801.