Georgiana Criminal Lawyer

Many cities and towns in Alabama and nationwide operate municipal courts. These courts are designed to primarily handle traffic citations and lower-level misdemeanor crimes. Municipal courts, such as the Georgiana Municipal Court, do not normally handle felony offenses or other serious crimes.

In 2013, the southern Alabama city of Georgiana left the Butler County District Court system and began operating its own municipal court system for the first time in 40 years. Georgiana has a population of about 1,700 people and is located in Butler County, Alabama. The Georgiana Municipal Court is operating in the old Industrial Development building on Ebenezer Road in Georgiana, and you could reach the court by telephone at 334-376-0205. For more information, consult with a knowledgeable defense attorney.

Municipal courts typically handle minor criminal cases in order to free up the dockets and resources of the state trial courts, which are the County District Courts and Alabama Circuit Courts. Those courts handle felony offenses, but also some misdemeanor offenses and lesser-included offenses.

The Georgiana Municipal Court hears traffic ordinance violations and misdemeanor cases that originate within the city limits of Georgiana. While the court does not hear cases involving felony charges, the Second Judicial Circuit Court handles felony criminal cases originating from arrests or criminal activity in Georgiana.

An Ordinance violation is typically considered less serious than a misdemeanor or felony offense in a municipal court in Georgiana. The maximum jail sentence for a violation is 30 days, which individuals must serve in the municipal or county jail. These offenses also may result in a fine. An attorney may be able to help a person avoid any violations by informing them of any legal requirements they must meet.

Under Alabama law, misdemeanor offenses are divided into three different classes: A, B, and C. Class A misdemeanors are the most severe offenses, whereas Class C misdemeanors are the least severe offenses. Penalties for misdemeanors under Alabama Code § 13A-5-7 may include the following:

• Class A misdemeanor – up to one year in jail and a $6,000 fine
• Class B misdemeanor – up to six months in jail and a $3,000 fine
• Class C misdemeanor – up to three months in jail and a $500 fine, or no more than double the amount lost by the subject of the offense or gained by the defendant

Many different types of offenses qualify as misdemeanors under Alabama law. Some common Class C misdemeanor offenses include disorderly conduct, harassment, second-degree trespassing, and carrying a gun without a permit. Class B misdemeanor offenses are more serious crimes, including cruelty to animals, driving with a suspended license, and first-time reckless driving.

Class A misdemeanors are the most serious offenses without rising to the level of a felony offense. These offenses include third-degree theft, which is theft of goods or services valued at less than $500, sexual misconduct, third-time DUI, third-degree domestic violence, and fleeing an officer that does not result in bodily injury or death.

Individuals could pay traffic tickets or fines related to municipal court cases online at Govt Portal. The Municipal Courts in Georgiana also accept payments via telephone by calling (251) 216-4107.

Simply ignoring a traffic citation or failing to appear Georgiana Municipal Court when ordered to do could have serious consequences. In the case of a misdemeanor DUI, failing to appear as ordered may very well result in a warrant for your arrest. This could cause you to spend time in jail, even if a plea agreement or court order would have resulted in you serving no jail time.

While the Georgiana Municipal Court hears only ordinance violations and lower-level misdemeanor offenses, some of these charges still can result in jail time, high fines, and other unwanted consequences.

Speak with a municipal court defense attorney today, who may be able to advise you of your rights and assist you in avoiding or minimizing some of the potential consequences of your charges.