[Ord. No. 2994 §§1 — 2, 12-18-1978]
There is hereby established in this City a Municipal Court to be known as the "Dexter Municipal Court, a Division of the 35th Judicial Circuit Court of the State of Missouri". This Court is a continuation of the Police Court of the City as previously established and is termed herein "the Municipal Court".
[Ord. No. 2994 §§1 — 2, 12-18-1978]
The jurisdiction of the Municipal Court shall extend to all cases involving alleged violations of the ordinances of the City.
[Ord. No. 2994 §§1 — 2, 12-18-1978; Ord. No. 2999 §1, 1979; Ord. No. 4399 §1, 5-15-2006]
A. 
The Judge of the City's Municipal Court shall be known as a Municipal Judge of the 35th Judicial Circuit Court and shall be selected as follows:
1. 
The Municipal Judge shall be appointed to his/her position by the Mayor of this City with the approval of the Board of Aldermen.
[Ord. No. 2994 §§1 — 2, 12-18-1978; Ord. No. 4399 §2, 5-15-2006]
The Municipal Judge shall hold his/her office at the discretion of the Mayor with the approval of the Board of Aldermen.
[Ord. No. 2994 §§1 — 2, 12-18-1978]
A. 
The Municipal Judge shall vacate his/her office under the following circumstances:
1. 
Upon removal from office by the State Commission on the Retirement, Removal and Discipline of Judges as provided in Missouri Supreme Court Rule 12; or
2. 
Upon attaining his/her seventy-fifth (75th) birthday; or
3. 
Should he/she fail, within six (6) months of his/her selection, to satisfactorily complete a course of instruction for Municipal Judges as prescribed by the State Supreme Court.
[Ord. No. 2994 §§1 — 2, 12-18-1978]
A. 
The Municipal Judge shall possess the following qualifications before he/she shall take office:
1. 
He/she must be licensed to practice law in the State of Missouri.
2. 
He/she must be a resident of the State of Missouri.
3. 
He/she must be between the ages of twenty-one (21) and seventy-five (75) years.
4. 
He/she may not hold any other office within the City Government.
[Ord. No. 2994 §§1 — 2, 12-18-1978]
The Municipal Court of the City shall be subject to the rules of the Circuit Court of which it is a part and to the rules of the State Supreme Court. The Municipal Court shall be subject to the general administrative authority of the Presiding Judge of the Circuit Court.
[Ord. No. 2994 §§1 — 2, 12-18-1978; Ord. No. 4875, 12-4-2017]
Within the first ten (10) days of each month, pursuant to Supreme Court Operating Rule 4.29, the Missouri Division Summary Report Form shall be prepared under oath by the Municipal Court Clerk or the Municipal Judge. This report will be filed with the City Clerk who shall thereafter forward the same to the Board of Aldermen of the City for examination. The Municipal Court shall, within the ten (10) days after the first of the month, pay to the City Clerk the full amount of all fines collected during the preceding months, if they have not previously been paid.
[Ord. No. 2994 §§1 — 2, 12-18-1978]
The Municipal Judge shall be a conservator of the peace. He/she shall keep a docket in which he/she shall enter every case commenced before him/her and the proceedings therein and he/she shall keep such other records as may be required. The Municipal Judge shall deliver the docket and records of the Municipal Court and all books and papers pertaining to his/her office to his/her successor in office.
[Ord. No. 2994 §§1 — 2, 12-18-1978]
A. 
The Municipal Judge shall be and is hereby authorized to:
1. 
Establish a Violations Bureau as provided for in the Missouri Rules of Practice and Procedure in Municipal and Traffic Courts and Section 479.050, RSMo.
2. 
Administer oaths and enforce due obedience to all orders, rules and judgments made by him/her and may fine and imprison for contempt committed before him/her while holding court in the same manner and to the same extent as a Circuit Judge.
3. 
Commute the term of any sentence, stay execution of any fine or sentence, suspend any fine or sentence and make such other orders as the Municipal Judge deems necessary relative to any matter that may be pending in the Municipal Court.
4. 
Make and adopt such rules of practice and procedure as are necessary to implement and carry out the provisions of this Chapter and to make and adopt such rules of practice and procedure as are necessary to hear and decide matters pending before the Municipal Court and to implement and carry out the provisions of the Missouri Rules of Practice and Procedure in Municipal and Traffic Courts.
5. 
The Municipal Judge shall have such other powers, duties and privileges as are or may be prescribed by the laws of this State, this Code or other ordinances of this City.
[Ord. No. 2994 §§1 — 2, 12-18-1978]
Should the Municipal Judge determine that there shall be a Violations Bureau, the City shall provide all expenses incident to the operation of the same.
[Ord. No. 2994 §§1 — 2, 12-18-1978]
All warrants issued by a Municipal Judge shall be directed to the Chief of Police or any other Police Officer of the municipality or to the Sheriff of the County. The warrant shall be executed by the Chief of Police, Police Officer or Sheriff any place within the limits of the County and not elsewhere unless the warrants are endorsed in the manner provided for warrants in criminal cases and, when so endorsed, shall be served in other Counties as provided for in warrants in criminal cases.
[Ord. No. 2994 §§1 — 2, 12-18-1978]
The Chief of Police or other Police Officers of the City may, without a warrant, make arrest of any person who commits an offense in his/her presence, but such officer shall, before the trial, file a written complaint with the Judge hearing violations of municipal ordinances.
[Ord. No. 2994 §§1 — 2, 12-18-1978]
Any person charged with a violation of a municipal ordinance of this City shall be entitled to a trial by jury as in prosecutions for misdemeanors before an Associate Circuit Judge. Whenever a defendant accused of a violation of a municipal ordinance demands trial by jury, the Municipal Court shall certify the case to the Presiding Judge of the Circuit Court for reassignment.
[Ord. No. 2994 §§1 — 2, 12-18-1978]
It shall be the duty of the Municipal Judge to summon all persons whose testimony may be deemed essential as witnesses at the trial and to enforce their attendance by attachment, if necessary. The fees of witnesses shall be the same as those fixed for witnesses in trials before Associate Circuit Judges and shall be taxed as other costs in the case. When a trial shall be continued by a Municipal Judge, it shall not be necessary to summon any witnesses who may be present at the continuance; but the Municipal Judge shall orally notify such witnesses as either party may require to attend before him/her on the day set for trial to testify in the case and enter the names of such witnesses on his/her docket, which oral notice shall be valid as a summons.
[Ord. No. 2994 §§1 — 2, 12-18-1978]
If, in the progress of any trial before a Municipal Judge, it shall appear to the Judge that the accused ought to be put upon trial for an offense against the criminal laws of the State and not cognizable before him/her as Municipal Judge, he/she shall immediately stop all further proceedings before him/her as Municipal Judge and cause the complaint to be made before some Associate Circuit Judge within the County.
A. 
Any Judge hearing violations of municipal ordinances may, when in his/her judgment it may seem advisable, grant a parole or probation to any person who shall plead guilty or who shall be convicted after a trial before such Judge. When a person is placed on probation, he/she shall be given a certificate explicitly stating the conditions on which he/she is being released.
B. 
In addition to such other authority as exists to order conditions of probation, the Court may order conditions which the Court believes will serve to compensate the victim of the crime, any dependent of the victim, or society in general. Such conditions may include, but need not be limited to:
1. 
Restitution to the victim or any dependent of the victim in an amount to be determined by the Judge; and
2. 
The performance of a designated amount of free work for a public or charitable purpose or purposes as determined by the Judge.
C. 
A person may refuse probation conditioned on the performance of free work. If he/she does so, the Court shall decide the extent or duration of sentence or other disposition to be imposed and render judgment accordingly. Any County, City, person, organization or agency or employee of a County, City, organization or agency charged with the supervision of such free work or who benefits from its performance shall be immune from any suit by the person placed on parole or probation or any person deriving a cause of action from him/her if such cause of action arises from such supervision of performance, except for intentional torts or gross negligence. The services performed by the probationer or parolee shall not be deemed employment within the meaning of the provisions of Chapter 288, RSMo.
D. 
The Court may modify or enlarge the conditions of probation at any time prior to the expiration or termination of the probation term.
Except where there has been a plea of guilty or where the case has been tried with a jury, the defendant shall have a right of trial de novo before a Circuit Court Judge or upon assignment before an Associate Circuit Court Judge. An application for a trial de novo shall be filed within ten (10) days after judgment and shall be filed in such form and perfected in such manner as provided by Supreme Court Rule.
[Ord. No. 2994 §§1 — 2, 12-18-1978]
In all cases in which a jury trial has been demanded, a record of the proceedings shall be made and appeals may be had upon that record to the appropriate Appellate Court.
[Ord. No. 2994 §§1 — 2, 12-18-1978]
In the case of a breach of any recognizance entered into before a Municipal Judge or an Associate Circuit Judge hearing a municipal ordinance violation case, the same shall be deemed forfeited and the Judge shall cause the same to be prosecuted against the principal and surety, or either of them, in the name of the municipality as plaintiff. Such action shall be prosecuted before a Circuit Judge or Associate Circuit Judge and in the event of cases caused to be prosecuted by a Municipal Judge, such shall be on the transcript of the proceedings before the Municipal Judge. All monies recovered in such actions shall be paid over to the Municipal Treasury to the General Revenue Fund of the municipality.
[Ord. No. 2994 §§1 — 2, 12-18-1978]
A Municipal Judge shall be disqualified to hear any case in which he/she is in anywise interested or, if before the trial is commenced, the defendant or the prosecutor files an affidavit that the defendant or the municipality, as the case may be, cannot have a fair and impartial trial by reason of the interest or prejudice of the Judge. Neither the defendant nor the municipality shall be entitled to file more than one (1) affidavit or disqualification in the same case.
[Ord. No. 2994 §§1 — 2, 12-18-1978; Ord. No. 2999 §2, 1979]
If a Municipal Judge be absent, sick or disqualified from acting, the Mayor of the Board of Aldermen may request the Presiding Judge of the Circuit Court to designate a special Municipal Judge as provided in Subsection (2) of Section 479.230, RSMo., or the Mayor may designate some competent, eligible person to act as Municipal Judge until such absence or disqualification shall cease; provided however, that should a vacancy occur in the office of an elected Municipal Judge more than six (6) months before a general municipal election, then a special election shall be held to fill such vacancy; and in case of vacancy in the office of an elected Municipal Judge within less than six (6) months of a general municipal election, the office may be filled by a competent, eligible person designated by the Mayor of the Board of Aldermen or as provided in Subsection (2) of Section 479.230, RSMo.
[Ord. No. 2994 §§1 — 2, 12-18-1978]
A. 
The duties of the Clerk shall be as follows:
1. 
To collect such fines for violations of such offenses as may be described and the Court costs thereof.
2. 
To take oaths and affirmations.
3. 
To accept signed complaints and allow the same to be signed and sworn to or affirmed before him/her.
4. 
Sign and issue subpoenas requiring the attendance of witnesses and sign and issue subpoenas duces tecum.
5. 
Accept the appearance, waiver of trial and plea of guilty and payment of fine and costs in Violation Bureau cases or as directed by the Municipal Judge and generally act as Violation Clerk of the Violation Bureau.
6. 
Perform all other duties as provided for by ordinance, by rules of practice and procedure adopted by the Municipal Judge and by the Missouri Rules of Practice and Procedure in Municipal Traffic Courts and by Statute.
7. 
Maintain a complete copy of the ordinances of the City of the municipality which shall constitute prima facia evidence of such ordinance before the Court. Further, to maintain a similar certified copy on file with the Clerk serving the Circuit Court of this County.
A. 
In addition to any fine that may be imposed by the Municipal Judge in any case filed in the Dexter Municipal Division of the 35th Judicial Circuit Court, and in addition to all other fees authorized or required by law, there shall be assessed as costs the following:
1. 
Costs of Court in the amount of twelve dollars ($12.00).
2. 
Police Officer training fee. A fee of three dollars ($3.00) is hereby established and assessed as additional Court costs in each Court proceeding, except that no such fee shall be collected when the proceedings against the defendant have been dismissed.
a. 
Two dollars ($2.00) of each such Court cost shall be transmitted monthly to the Treasurer of the City and used to pay for Police Officer training as provided by Sections 590.100 to 590.180, RSMo. The City shall not retain for training purposes more than one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500.00) of such funds for each certified Law Enforcement Officer or candidate for certification employed by the City. Any excess funds shall be transmitted quarterly to the City's General Fund.
b. 
One dollar ($1.00) of each such Court cost shall be sent to the State Treasury to the credit of the Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission Fund created by Section 590.178, RSMo.
3. 
Crime Victims' Compensation Fund. An additional sum of seven dollars fifty cents ($7.50) shall be assessed and added to the basic costs in Subsection (1) of this Section, provided that no such cost shall be collected in any proceeding when the proceeding or the defendant has been dismissed by the Court. All sums collected pursuant to this Subsection shall be paid at least monthly as follows:
a. 
Ninety-five percent (95%) of such fees shall be paid to the Director of Revenue of the State of Missouri for deposit as provided in Section 595.045.5, RSMo.
b. 
Five percent (5%) shall be paid to the City Treasury.
4. 
There may also be assessed a two dollar ($2.00) cost per case for each criminal case and each County or municipal ordinance violation case for the purpose of providing operating expenses for shelters for battered persons as set out in Section 488.607, RSMo.
5. 
Other costs, such as for the issuance of a warrant, a commitment or a summons, as provided before the Associate Circuit Judge in criminal prosecutions.
6. 
Actual costs assessed against the City by the County Sheriff for apprehension or confinement in the County Jail or costs assessed against the City by any other detention facility.
7. 
Mileage, in the same amount as provided to the Sheriff in criminal violations, for each mile and fraction thereof the officer must travel (both directions) in order to serve any warrant or commitment or order of this Court.
8. 
Any other reasonable cost as may be otherwise provided by ordinance including, but not limited to, costs of confinement, including any necessary transportation related thereto, medical costs incurred by the City while a defendant is in City custody, and costs related to the arrest and testing of any person for any intoxication-related traffic offense as set out in Subsection (9) hereof.
9. 
Reimbursement of certain costs of arrest.
a. 
Upon a plea or a finding of guilty of violating the provisions of Sections 342.020 or 342.030 of this Code or any ordinance of the City of Dexter involving alcohol- or drug-related traffic offenses, the Court may, in addition to imposition of any penalties provided by law, order the convicted person to reimburse the Police Department for the costs associated with such arrest.
b. 
Such costs hereby authorized shall include the reasonable cost of making the arrest, including the cost of any chemical test made as authorized or required by law or ordinance to determine the alcohol or drug content of the person's blood, and the costs of processing, charging, booking and holding such person in custody.
c. 
The Chief of Police may establish a schedule of such costs hereby authorized and shall submit the same to the Municipal Judge. However, the Court may order the costs reduced if it determines that the costs are excessive.
d. 
Upon receipt of such additional costs authorized by this Subsection, the City Treasurer shall retain such costs in a separate fund to be known as the "DWI/Drug Offense Cost Reimbursement Fund". Monies with such fund shall be appropriated by the Board of Aldermen to the Police Department in amounts equal to those costs so collected and shall be used by such department specifically to enhance and support the enforcement and prosecution of alcohol- and drug-related traffic laws within the City.
10. 
Missouri Sheriffs Retirement Fund. Pursuant to Section 57.955 and Section 488.024, RSMo., a three dollar ($3. 00) surcharge on all municipal cases disposed of by a plea of guilty or finding of guilt to Missouri Sheriffs Retirement System.
[Ord. No. 4856, 7-3-2017]
11. 
Court Automation Fee. Pursuant to Section 488.012.3(5) and Section 488.027.2, RSMo., in addition to the other costs authorized in this Section, there shall be assessed a state court automation surcharge of seven dollars ($7.00) in all cases in which court costs are taxed. Said surcharge shall be collected by the Municipal Court and transmitted monthly to the Missouri Director of Revenue to the credit of the Missouri Statewide Court Automation Fund.
[Ord. No. 4932, 8-29-2019]
Any person who is convicted or pleads guilty to a speeding violation or passing/overtaking a vehicle in a work/construction zone when there was any person present performing duties in the work/construction zone and appropriate signs were posted stating "Warning: $250 fine for speeding or passing in this work zone" shall be assessed a fine of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) in addition to any other fine assessed; except that any person assessed the two hundred fifty dollar ($250.00) fine shall not also be assessed the thirty-five dollar ($35.00) fine for any of the following offenses in a construction or work zone: any moving violation or violation of speeding, leaving the scene, careless and imprudent driving, operating without a valid license, operating with a suspended or revoked license, obtaining a license by misrepresentation, driving while intoxicated, under the influence or BAC, any felony offense involving the use of a vehicle, or failure to maintain financial responsibility.
[Ord. No. 2994 §§1 — 2, 12-18-1978]
When a fine is assessed for violating an ordinance, it should be within the discretion of the Judge assessing the fine to provide for the payment of the fine on an installment basis under such terms and conditions as he/she may deem appropriate.