CITY OF EL PASO OPERATIONAL HOURS:
Mon-Thurs, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. - Closed Fridays

PURPOSE: The purpose of the arraignment is to inform you of the charge against you and to take your plea. You promised to appear at your arraignment date when you signed the ticket issued to you by the officer.

ARRAIGNMENT LOCATION: 9600 Dyer, Northeast Municipal Annex

ARRAIGNMENT DATE: Your arraignment date appears at the top of your citation, above your signature promising to appear on that date. If you do not plead on all charges shown on the ticket by the appearance date, you may expect an arrest warrant to be issued and a $ 50.00 warrant fee to be added to your fine upon conviction.

ARRAIGNMENT TIMES: On the date specified you may appear anytime between the hours of 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Courtroom doors will closed promptly at 11:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. and no one will be admitted to the courtroom past 4:30 p.m.

PROCEDURE: When you enter the courtroom, please sign in with the Court bailiff. Your case will be called in the order in which you were received, first-come, first-served

PLEAS: The purpose of the arraignment is to take your plea. The judge will advise you of the charge and request your plea. Testimony regarding the facts of the case will not be heard.

Guilty Plea: If you plead guilty, you will be fined by the judge.
Not Guilty Plea: If you plead not guilty and request a trial, the judge will ask you if you want a trial by judge or jury and will ask if you would like a court reporter to take a record of the proceedings.
Affirmative Defenses: If you received a violation for Failure To Maintain Financial Responsibility, a driver’s license violation, a vehicle registration violation, a vehicle inspection sticker violation, an animal regulation violation or a defective vehicle equipment violation and you have documents that prove compliance with the law, you may produce those at your arraignment. Upon review of the documents the City Prosecutor will make a recommendation to the judge regarding the disposition of the case.

DRIVER’S SAFETY COURSE: If you would like to take a driver’s safety course for the dismissal of a violation you may request permission from the judge.

RESCHEDULING ARRAIGNMENT DATE: In order to reschedule your arraignment date, bond must be posted according to the bond schedule. Once bond is received, your request for trial will be entered. You will be notified by mail of your trial date when it is scheduled.

DECORUM AND DRESS:

• Proper decorum must be maintained in the court at all times. The following are not allowed: food or drink, chewing gum, shorts, tank tops or halter-tops.
  
• Cellular phones, beepers and other electronic devices must be turned off once the court is in session. Failure to abide by the Court rules and regulations may result in a contempt finding and the assessment of a fine.