Traffic and Criminal Citations
Many traffic and some criminal citations (also known as tickets) are payable in the Clerk’s Office and do not require a court appearance. These are called “waiverable” tickets. You can choose to appear before the judge on your court date for these offenses. Or, you can choose to waive your right to a hearing in court, plead guilty and pay your costs and fines for these offenses in the Clerk’s Office, over the phone, or online. Waiverable tickets must be paid on or before your court date.
“Waiverable” Tickets and Cost/Fine Amounts most commonly issued:
Waiverable Criminal Violations
For “Non-Waiverable” offenses, you are required to appear before the judge on the court date and time listed on the ticket. If your ticket requires a court appearance and you are found guilty, the amount of your court costs and fines will be determined by the judge.
Common non-waiverable offenses
If you are unsure whether you need to appear before the judge, please call the Clerk’s Office at 937-296-2461.
Learn more about your court appearance
Please be aware that if you do not pay your waiverable ticket or appear before the judge by your court date, your driver’s license may be suspended, a warrant may be issued and your license or vehicle registration may be blocked. All of these will result in additional costs to you.
Paying a ticket
You can pay your court costs and fines in person online, over the phone, or through the mail. Payments are accepted Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Please note that the Clerk’s Office does NOT have a drop-box.)
We accept cash, credit/debit card (Mastercard or Visa), certified cashier’s check, money order or personal check made payable to Kettering Municipal Court. There is a fee for all credit card transactions.
For Mail Payments:
If your ticket is payable without a required court appearance, please sign the waiver on the back of your ticket and mail it, along with your check or money order and proof of insurance if necessary (see note below) to:
Kettering Municipal Court Clerk’s Office
2325 Wilmington Pike
Kettering, OH 45420
Your mail payment must arrive in the Clerk’s Office by your court date to ensure that you do not receive any additional charges or consequences. Your court date is located near the bottom of your original citation or ticket. If you would like a receipt, please enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
Changing Your Court Appearance Date
If you cannot make the initial arraignment date that you were given when you were ticketed or arrested, you may be able to reschedule by getting an extension of your court date for up to one week. Please contact the Clerk’s Office at 937-296-2461 prior to your scheduled court date to inquire about an extension.
Finding An Attorney
You are entitled to have an attorney represent you before the Court if you are arrested, ticketed or summoned for a traffic or criminal offense. For help in finding an attorney, you can contact:
Dayton Bar Association
Attorney Referral Service
937-222-6102
www.daybar.org
Please visit our Link/Resources section for additional information.
If you cannot afford an attorney and you are charged with an offense that carries the possibility of a jail sentence, you may qualify to be represented by a public defender. Ask the judge about this option when you appear for your first arraignment.
Proof of Insurance
Ohio law requires all car owners to carry insurance on the vehicles they drive or allow others to drive. This insurance is mandatory. When you are given a ticket, the Clerk’s Office is required to report the status of your insurance to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV). If you do not provide proof, your driver’s license will be suspended by the BMV and you will have to pay additional fees and have additional insurance requirements. This proof is required for the car you were driving when stopped whether you own the car or not.
Please check the area on your ticket that says “Financial Responsibility Proof Shown.” Make sure the “Y” box is checked. If you did not show proof when you were cited or if the officer did not mark “Y” to indicate you showed proof of insurance, please provide proof to the Clerk’s Office. Please include your ticket number or court case number if the proof is mailed, emailed or faxed. You may also ask your insurance agent to fax in proof and then call the Clerk’s Office to make sure we received it.
The insurance shown (with company logo) must indicate that the vehicle you were driving had insurance in effect before the date and time you received your ticket. We may also accept a statement from your insurance company stating that the vehicle you were driving had coverage.
If you choose to go to court, this proof must be received within three business days after your case has a finding. If you paid your ticket without going to court, insurance must be received within three business days after you paid your ticket. If we do not receive proof of insurance within this time frame the BMV will be notified that no insurance was shown. For next steps and further questions regarding driving without insurance, please call the BMV at 1-844-644-6268 or visit the Ohio BMV web site.
Mail your proof of insurance to the Clerk’s Office at:
Kettering Municipal Court Clerk’s Office
2325 Wilmington Pike
Kettering, OH 45420
Fax your proof of insurance to the Clerk’s Office at:
937-534-7017
When faxing, please call our office at 937-296-2461 to make sure your fax was received.
Email your proof of insurance to the Clerk’s Office at:
One of our Deputy Clerks will reply to your email. (Check your spam folder if you don’t see a reply.)