The municipal court shall have jurisdiction within the territorial
limits of the city in all criminal cases arising under the ordinances
of the city, and shall also have concurrent jurisdiction with the
justice of the peace in the precinct in which the city is situated
in all criminal cases arising under the criminal laws of this state
in which punishment is by fine only, and where the maximum of such
fine may not exceed the maximum allowed by law and arising within
such territorial limits.
(1965 Code, sec. 7-1)
Upon all trials, if the accused or person charged shall demand
a trial by jury, proper writ shall issue to the chief of police to
summon a jury, conforming in all things, as well with respect to the
qualifications of the persons selected to act as jurors as the summoning
and impaneling, and the compensation of such jurors, to the statutes
of the state regulating juries in the courts of justices of the peace.
(1965 Code, sec. 7-8)
Oaths of witnesses to testify before the court may be administered
by the judge of the court, the clerk of the court, the deputy clerk
of the court, the city secretary, the deputy city secretary, the city
attorney, or the assistant city attorney.
(1965 Code, sec. 7-10)
The judgment in the case of a conviction in a criminal case
before the judge shall be that the city recover of the defendant the
fine and fees and that the defendant remain in custody until fine
and fees are paid or other order of the court is followed.
(1965 Code, sec. 7-11)
In each case of conviction before the judge from which no appeal
is taken, a capias shall be issued for the collection of the fine
and costs, which shall be enforced and returned in the manner prescribed
by law in civil actions before justices of the peace of this state.
(1965 Code, sec. 7-14)
The municipal court shall assess and collect the maximum administrative
fees authorized by state law for traffic related offenses.
(1965 Code, sec. 7-18)
Any person who willfully violates his promise to appear in the
municipal court at the time and place promised by him in a duplicate
written notice to appear signed by him after arrest for a violation
of any state or municipal law or ordinance punishable by a fine in
the municipal court of the city is guilty of a misdemeanor regardless
of the disposition of the charge upon which he was originally arrested.
A written promise to appear in court may be complied with by an appearance
by counsel.
(1965 Code, sec. 20-25)
A municipal court technology fund is hereby created as authorized
by Article 102.0172 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. The municipal
court clerk shall collect a technology fee of four dollars ($4.00)
as a cost of court from each defendant convicted of a misdemeanor
offense in the Municipal Court of the City of Alamo Heights. The technology
fee shall be added to each offense for which a defendant is convicted.
A defendant shall be considered convicted of a misdemeanor offense
under any of the circumstances listed in Article 102.0172. The municipal
court technology fund shall be expended by the city administrator
for any of the purposes authorized in Article 102.0172. The technology
fee shall be collected for all convictions occurring in the Municipal
Court of the City of Alamo Heights after January 31, 2000.
Editor's note—Ordinance 1450, adopted Jan. 10, 2000, did not specifically amend the Code; hence, inclusion herein as §
11-10 was at the discretion of the editor.
(Ordinance 1450 adopted 1/10/2000)