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Court Dates for 2009
Recorders' Court starts at 2:00pm
Traffic Court - 1st court date in the
month
Criminal court - 2nd court date in the
month & December 8, 2009
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January 13, 2009 |
April 14, 2009 |
July 14, 2009 |
October 13, 2009 |
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January 27, 2009 |
April 28, 2009 |
July 28, 200 |
October 27, 2009 |
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February 10, 2009 |
May 12, 2009 |
August 11, 2009 |
November 10, 2009 |
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February 24, 2009 |
May 26, 2009 |
August 25, 2009 |
November 24, 2009 |
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March 10, 2009 |
June 9, 2009 |
September 8, 2009 |
December 8, 2009 |
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March 24, 2009 |
June 23, 2009 |
September 22, 2009 |
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BLOOMINGDALE MUNICIPAL COURT
The following
information is meant to be of help to those who have questions on
citations issued by the Bloomingdale Police Department, bonding
procedures for individuals arrested by the Bloomingdale Police
Department, and other general questions concerning the operation of
the Bloomingdale Municipal Court.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1. Paying
Citations
2. Court Appearance
3. Jury Trial
4. Bonding
5. Where
6.
Miscellaneous
1. Paying
Citations
If you have been
issued a citation by an Officer of the Bloomingdale Police
Department and you do not wish to contest the charge, you may call
(912) 748-8302 or come to the Bloomingdale Police Department located
at #6 Adams Road and see the Court Clerk or Court
Administrator to find out your fine amount. All fines for
violations of State law include various state and county surcharges
based on the offense.
After receiving your
fine amount, payment may be made at the Court Customer Service
window at the Bloomingdale Police Department Building, Monday through
Friday, between 9:00am and 5:00pm, or you may mail your payment to:
Bloomingdale
Municipal Court
P.O. Box 216
Bloomingdale, GA
31302
Payment may be made
in cash, cashier check, or money order. Personal checks
will not be accepted! The court does not recommend sending
cash if you mail in your fine.
If your payment is
not received by 12:00noon of your assigned court date, or you do not appear
in court on your assigned court date, your case will be treated as a
failure to appear and a warrant may be issued for your arrest,
and/or your driver's license may be suspended. Fines may not
be set up on a payment schedule without being sentenced to
probation.
_______________________________________
2. Court
Appearance
If you receive a
citation, you have the right to appear in court and contest the
charge. However, if you pay your fine prior to the assigned
court date, no court appearance is necessary. By paying your
fine prior to court, you are pleading guilty to the offense as
charged. Court appearances are, however, mandatory for all
charges for which the offender was placed under arrest and
incarcerated. Court appearances are also mandatory for the
following traffic offenses:
1 - Homicide by vehicle
2 - Any felony in which
a vehicle is used
3 - Hit and Run or
Leaving the Scene of an Accident
4 - Racing
5 - Laying Drag
6 - Reckless Driving
7 - Feticide by vehicle
8 - Serious injury by
vehicle
9 - Homicide or serious
injury by interfering with traffic control device or railroad
sign/signal
10 - Controlled
substance or marijuana offenses pursuant to OCGA 40-5-75
11 - Driving on
suspended or revoked license
12 - Driving under the
influence of alcohol/drugs
13 - Following too close
with an accident involved
14 - Fraudulent or
fictitious use of driver's license
15 - Aggressive driving
If, for some reasons,
you are unable to attend court on the assigned court date, you must
notify the Court Clerk's office by 5:00pm of the last working day of
the week before your court date. Continuances will not be
granted, except in exigent circumstances. These include family
deaths, substantiated medical emergencies, scheduled military duty,
and other instances deemed valid by the Court Administrator.
Only the Clerk of Court or the Court Administrator shall grant
continuances without a court appearance. If you do not receive
a continuance, you must appear in court. If you fail to
appear, a warrant may be issued for our arrest and/or your driver's
license may be suspended.
_______________________________________
3. Jury Trial
You have the right to
have your case heard by a jury of your peers. If you request a
jury trial, your case will be bound over to the Chatham County State
Court or Superior Court. If you desire to have an attorney to
represent you in your case, and you cannot afford one, one may be
appointed to you by the Court. You can also call the Indigent
Attorney Office of Chatham County at (912) 652-7141.
_______________________________________
4. Bonding
No Bloomingdale
Police Officer giving a citation and complaint to a defendant for a
traffic violation shall accept a cash bond.
TYPES OF BONDS
AVAILABLE:
1. CASH -
Cash or money order in the full amount of the bond, which will be
returned by the court when the appearance requirements of the bond
have been fulfilled or, with your approval, be forfeited toward any
fine imposed by the court. Personal checks will not be
accepted!
2. Professional
Bonding Companies - Bonds may be signed by any Georgia-licensed
professional bonding company with a business license to operate
within Chatham County.
_______________________________________
5. Where
Recorders' Court is held at the Bloomingdale City Hall Building
located at #6 Adams Road, Bloomingdale, GA.
___________________________________
6.
Miscellaneous
The following are rules
pertaining to attendance of court:
1. Be on time!
If you are late, you may arrive with a contempt charge already added
to your original fine amount.
2. Dress
appropriately. Shirts and shoes without holes are
required. Shorts and tank tops are not permitted. Hats
should be removed before entering the courtroom.
3. No smoking.
As in most Government buildings, smoking is not permitted in the
Bloomingdale Municipal Building. Dipping and tobacco chewing
is also not allowed. An ashtray is located outside the doors
of the City Hall for your convenience.
4. Turn off
pagers/cell phones. No audible electronic devices are
permitted inside the courtroom. An officer will confiscate the
pager or cell phone and a contempt charge will be paid in full
before the property is returned.
5. No weapons
allowed. Absolutely no weapons are allowed inside City Hall,
except those carried by certified law enforcement officers.
Possession of dangerous weapons inside a Government building is a
criminal offense, and you will face arrest and prosecution under
OCGA 16-11-127.
6. Food/Drinks
not allowed. No food or drinks are allowed inside the
courtroom. Please deposit all food and/or drinks in the trash
before entering the building.
7. Small
children discouraged. It is recommended that small
children not be brought into court. If at all possible, please
make arrangements for a sitter prior to your court date.
Continuances will not be granted because of childcare conflicts.
If you have any other
questions, please contact the Clerk of Court or the Court
Administrator at (912) 748-8302 during normal business hours.
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