Frequently Asked Questions, City Attorney's Office

CITY ATTORNEY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT MUNICIPAL COURT

The Longmont City Attorney's office often receives questions about Municipal Court cases we prosecute. The following are some of the most commonly asked questions and our answers. If, after reviewing these questions and answers, you still have questions, you can call the the Municipal Court Clerk, at (303) 651-8688.

How can I talk to the prosecutor about my ticket?
Is there a charge to speak to the prosecutor about my case?
What if I can't attend court?
How can I report a crime or city code violation?
How much is the fine for my ticket? Can I just pay a fine, or do I have to appear in court?
What is a Pre-trial Conference?
What is an arraignment?
What is the quickest way to resolve my charges, or get this over with?
What should I do to resolve my case?

How can I talk to the prosecutor about my ticket?

If your ticket has a blue border at the top, it is a Boulder County charge, so you will need to call the District Attorney's office at (303) 441-3700. If your ticket is all white, you can speak with the Longmont city prosecutor before entering a plea on your arraignment date.

Is there a charge to speak to the prosecutor about my case?

No.

What if I can't attend court?

If you are a witness for the prosecution (the City) and have received a subpoena, call (303) 651-8902 and explain, or leave a concise message, explaining why you cannot attend. Mention the defendant's name and trial date. We will need your phone number, so we can call you back after the prosecutor reviews the case. Unless we expressly excuse you, the subpoena requires that you appear as ordered.

If you are the defendant, you must always contact the Municipal Court at (303) 651-8688.

How can I report a crime or city code violation?

If this is an emergency, please hang up and dial 911. If you wish to report a crime, but the matter is not an emergency, call the Police Department at (303) 651-8555. To report zoning or building code violations, call code enforcement, at (303) 651-8695.

How much is the fine for my ticket? Can I just pay a fine, or do I have to appear in court?

For answers to these questions, defendants must always contact the Municipal Court at (303) 651-8688.

What is a Pre-trial Conference?

A pre-trial conference is a meeting with the prosecutor to discuss your case. The prosecutor has authority to ask the court to modify or dismiss the charges. After reviewing the particular facts and circumstances of any given case, the prosecutor sometimes makes a "plea bargain" with the defendant. In other words, the defendant pleads guilty to an agreed charge, and the prosecutor either moves to dismiss other charges, or makes some agreement limiting the fine or other punishment. In other cases, the prosecutor might not offer a plea bargain, or may actually ask the court to increase the number or severity of the charges.

What is an arraignment?

An arraignment is the defendant's first appearance in court. At arraignment, you can plead guilty or not guilty, or you can ask to speak with the prosecutor about any plea bargain possibilities.

What is the quickest way to resolve my charges, or get this over with?

Usually, the quickest way to a defendant can resolve Municipal Court charges is to pay a set fine, if possible, or to plead guilty at arraignment. By doing this, you will avoid the additional time and possible court costs associated with a trial. The Municipal Court will require that you understand and voluntarily give up your right to trial. If you plead guilty at arraignment, the judge will give you a chance to tell her anything you think she should know before setting your sentence. In some cases, she may also require that you meet a Probation Officer for a pre-sentence investigation before setting your sentence.

What should I do to resolve my case?

As the prosecutor responsible for prosecuting defendants in the Municipal Court, the City prosecutor is the opponent of every defendant. Therefore we cannot advise defendants. Every Municipal Court defendant has the right to hire an attorney. In cases that could result in a jail sentence, the court may appoint lawyers for defendants who cannot afford to hire their own. With or without legal advice, defendants must decide the best course of action for themselves.