Municipal Court

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Duties

The Municipal Court oversees cases involving violations of City Ordinances, which include traffic, criminal, and code violations. The Municipal Court Clerk’s Office processes all paperwork and fines associated with cases referred to the City of Hays Municipal Court. 

Cases involving a felony, domestic battery, and most juvenile related incidents are processed through the Ellis County District Court, rather than the Hays Municipal Court.

Court Appearances

The City of Hays annually adopts the Standard Traffic Ordinance for Kansas Cities and the Uniform Public Offense Code for Kansas Cities published by the League of Kansas Municipalities. These publications are compilations of most of the State of Kansas’ criminal and traffic statutes that are commonly used by municipalities. Local ordinances along with all state and federal laws are enforced by the City of Hays Police Department. Anyone cited for an infraction or select misdemeanors will likely appear before the Hays Municipal Court.

Location & Time

  • Appearances before the Municipal Court Judge are currently held in person.
  • First appearances are scheduled every Monday and Thursday at 8 a.m, with Spanish interpreters available upon request before the first appearance.

Fines & Fees

Fines and fees are collected by the Municipal Court Clerk, located inside the Hays Police Department. Select fines and fees may be paid via mail, as directed on the back of the citation. Failure to comply with citations and/or paying of fines may result in the issuance of an arrest warrant and/or the suspension of driving privileges.