(a) 
The city council hereby establishes the Alvarado Municipal Court as a municipal court of record in order to provide a more efficient disposition of cases arising in the city, and in order to more effectively enforce the ordinances of the city. The municipal court shall become a court of record from and after December 19, 2006, and shall be known as the "Municipal Court of Record in the City of Alvarado."
(b) 
This municipal court of record is established pursuant to the authority granted in V.T.C.A., Government Code ch. 30, known as the Uniform Municipal Courts of Record Act, and the terms set forth therein are hereby adopted governing the operation of said court.
(2008 Code, sec. 33.01; Ordinance 2006-012 adopted 12/19/2006)
The court shall have concurrent jurisdiction with any justice court in any precinct in which the city is located in criminal cases that arise within the city and are punishable only by fine.
(2008 Code, sec. 33.02; Ordinance 2006-012 adopted 12/19/2006)
(a) 
Establishment of the municipal court technology fund.
(1) 
There is hereby created and established a municipal court technology fund, hereinafter referred to as the "fund," pursuant to Vernon's Ann. C.C.P. art. 102.0172.
(2) 
The fund may be maintained in an interest-bearing account and may be maintained in the general revenue account.
(b) 
Establishment of amount of the fee and assessment and collection.
(1) 
The fee shall be in the amount of $4.00.
(2) 
The fee shall be assessed and collected from the defendant upon conviction for a misdemeanor offense in the city municipal court as a cost of court. A defendant is considered convicted if:
a. 
A sentence is imposed on the person;
b. 
The person is placed on community supervision, including deferred adjudication community supervision; or
c. 
The court defers final disposition of the person's case.
(3) 
The fee shall be collected on conviction for an offense committed on or after September 1, 1999.
(4) 
The court clerk shall collect the fee and pay the fee to the finance director of the city, who shall deposit the fee into the municipal court technology fund.
(c) 
Designated use of the fund and administration.
(1) 
The fund shall be used only to finance the purchase of technological enhancements for the municipal court of the city, including:
a. 
Computer systems;
b. 
Computer networks;
c. 
Computer hardware;
d. 
Computer software;
e. 
Imaging systems;
f. 
Electronic kiosks;
g. 
Electronic ticket writers; or
h. 
Docket management systems.
(2) 
The fund shall be administered by or under the direction of the city council.
(2008 Code, sec. 33.05; Ordinance 99-046 adopted 8/23/1999)
(a) 
Fund created.
There is hereby created a municipal court building security fund pursuant to Vernon's Ann. C.C.P. art. 102.017. This fund shall be administered under the direction of the city council.
(b) 
Fee assessed.
All defendants convicted of a misdemeanor offense in municipal court shall be required to pay a $3.00 security fee as a cost of court. A person is considered convicted for purposes of this article if a sentence is imposed on the person, the person receives community supervision, including deferred adjudication, or the court defers final disposition of the person's case. The security fee shall be collected by the municipal court clerk and paid to the official who discharges the duties of municipal treasurer for deposit in the municipal court building security fund.
(c) 
Fund purposes.
The municipal court building security fund may be used only to finance items when used for the purpose of providing security services for any buildings housing the municipal court of the city, including:
(1) 
The purchase or repair of x-ray machines and conveying systems;
(2) 
Hand-held metal detectors;
(3) 
Walk-through metal detectors;
(4) 
Identification cards and systems;
(5) 
Electronic locking and surveillance equipment;
(6) 
Bailiffs, deputy sheriffs, deputy constables, or contract security personnel during times when they are providing appropriate security services;
(7) 
Signage;
(8) 
Confiscated weapon inventory and tracking systems;
(9) 
Locks, chains, alarms, or similar security devices;
(10) 
The purchase or repair of bullet-proof glass; and
(11) 
Continuing education on security issues for court personnel and security personnel.
(2008 Code, sec. 33.06; Ordinance 99-050 adopted 11/13/1999)
(a) 
Fund created.
There is hereby created a child safety fund. This fund shall be administered under the direction of the city council of the city in accordance with state law.
(b) 
Fine assessed.
(1) 
A person convicted of an offense regarding the stopping, standing, or parking of vehicles as allowed by section 542.202, Transportation Code, or chapter 682, Transportation Code, shall be required to pay a fine not to exceed $5.00 for each such conviction.
(2) 
A person convicted of an offense under subtitle C, title 7, Transportation Code, when the offense occurs within a school crossing zone defined by section 541.302 of that code, shall be required to pay a fine of $25.00. A person convicted of an offense under section 545.066, Transportation Code, shall be required to pay a fine of $25.00.
(3) 
A person convicted of an offense under section 25.093, Education Code, shall be required to pay a fine of $20.00.
(4) 
The fines assessed pursuant to this section shall be assessed in addition to all other lawfully permitted taxable court costs and shall be collected by the municipal court clerk and paid to the official who discharges the duties of municipal treasurer for deposit in the child safety fund. The municipal court clerk shall keep separate records of money collected under this section.
(c) 
Conviction.
A person is considered convicted for purposes of this section if:
(1) 
A sentence is imposed;
(2) 
The person received probation or deferred adjudication; or
(3) 
The court defers final disposition of the person's case.
(d) 
Fund purpose.
The child safety fund must be used for a school crossing guard program if the city operates one. If the city does not operate a school crossing guard program, or if the money received from court costs exceeds the amount necessary to fund the school cross guard program, the city may either deposit the money in an interest-bearing account or expend it for programs designed to enhance child safety, health, or nutrition, including child abuse prevention and intervention, youth diversion, and drug and alcohol abuse prevention, or expend the additional money for programs designed to enhance public safety and security.
(Ordinance 2024-0006 adopted 4/15/2024)