The municipal court as authorized by state law is hereby organized.
(1984 Code, sec. 1-31; Ordinance 8-A adopted 8/10/1899; Ordinance 338 adopted 4/9/1981; 1997 Code, sec. 32.01)
(a) 
Establishment of fines.
Municipal court fines shall be as set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code.
(b) 
Fines for other offenses.
The municipal court judge may from time to time establish rates for other offenses not specifically identified by this section in accordance with any local, state or federal laws which may provide for and establish such charges.
(c) 
Payments by credit card.
(1) 
Authorized.
The finance director, municipal court clerk or his or her designee is authorized to accept payment by credit card for a fee, fine, court cost or other charge imposed by the city municipal court.
(2) 
Processing fee.
The finance director, municipal court clerk, or his or her designee shall collect a processing fee for payments made by credit card. The processing fee shall be as set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code, as authorized by Texas Local Gov't Code section 132.003(b), as it exists and as it may be amended.
(3) 
Service charge for dishonored payments.
If a payment by credit card of a fee, fine, court cost or other charge authorized herein is not honored by the credit card company on which the funds are drawn, the finance director, municipal court clerk, or his or her designee shall collect a service charge from the person who owes the fee, fine, court cost or other charge and is for the collection of the original amount. The amount of the service charge shall equal the fee charged for the collection of a check drawn on an account with insufficient funds, as authorized by Texas Local Gov't Code section 132.004 as it exists and as it may be amended.
(4) 
Disposition of fees and charges.
The finance director, municipal court clerk, or his or her designee shall deposit all processing fees and service charges in the general fund of the city, as authorized by Texas Local Gov't Code section 132.006 as it exists and as it may be amended.
(5) 
Encumbrance of unauthorized credit cards.
The mayor shall be authorized on behalf of the city to contract with a company that issues credit cards to collect and seize credit cards issued by the company that are outdated or otherwise unauthorized. Such contract may provide that the city will charge the company a fee for the return of such credit cards, as authorized by Texas Local Gov't Code section 132.005.
(Ordinance 9-13-96 adopted 9/24/96; Ordinance O-01-07 adopted 2/27/2007; 1997 Code, sec. 32.09)
Payment of fines for cases filed in the municipal court are governed by the following:
(1) 
Defendants before the municipal court may plead guilty, nolo contendere or not guilty. All pleadings of guilty or nolo contendere will be adjudged a fine and the person will make payment of the fine to the cashier for the city, which is located in the utility billing and collection office. Payment of fines should be accompanied with a form of payment from the municipal court.
(2) 
A defendant wishing to plead guilty or nolo contendere to charges and pay fines by mail rather than appearing before the court may do so by signing the pleading form which they received at the time charges were made against them, such pleading form listing a fine schedule. For any charges not listed on fine schedule, the defendant will be required to contact the court. Fines being paid by mail will be mailed to the municipal court. Upon receipt of these fine payments, the municipal court clerk will prepare a form containing information such as docket number, date and fine due. This form will be presented to the cashier with payment of the fine.
(3) 
A defendant wishing to plead not guilty shall go before the judge of the municipal court. A defendant wishing to have trial by jury shall present an appearance bond to the court.
(1984 Code, sec. 20-94; 1997 Code, sec. 70.72)
All process issued out of the municipal court shall be served by a police officer or marshal of the city under the same rules as are provided by law for the service by sheriffs and constables of process issuing out of the justice court, so far as applicable to Texas Code of Criminal Procedure article 45.202, and process may be served throughout the county in which the city is located.
(1984 Code, sec. 20-91; 1997 Code, sec. 70.70)