Special Features

Information You Should Know When Receiving a Ticket

Options Available for Traffic Violations

PLEAD GUILTY/LIABLE: You may pay the pre-court fine and costs. The conviction is reported to your State’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles, which results in points and a conviction on your driving record. If you pay in person, cash, money order or cashier’s check is acceptable. If you pay by mail, money order or cashier’s check is acceptable (NO CASH). Money order or cashier’s check must be made payable to the GARY CITY CLERK, 555 Polk Street, Gary, Indiana 46402. Telephone (219) 881-1263. Hours 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., Monday – Friday; 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Saturday. If you fail to pay before the scheduled court date, you must appear in court on the scheduled court date.

No license when required, expired license or plates, no registration, fail to carry sign display, no bumper, and tinted window violation are payable with a fine of $10.00 plus court costs before the first court date.

PLEAD NOT GUILTY: You must appear in court on the designated date and at the designated time scheduled on the ticket, unless otherwise notified by the Gary City Clerk’s office. Failure to appear shall result in a judgment and suspension of your driver’s license.

Traffic Misdemeanors, Accident Violations, Driving With No Insurance and Driving While Suspended require a Court Appearance. No or Improper Taillights, No or Improper Headlights, No Brake Light, Cracked Windshield, Loud Muffler, and No Rearview Mirror may be voided if proof of correction is presented 10 to 15 Business days before the first court date.

Ticket Processing Information

Please allow ten (10) business days in order for the ticket to be received by our office from the Gary Police Department and processed. Do not throw your ticket away.

TO AVOID THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING YOUR DRIVER’S LICENSE SUSPENDED, IF THE ADDRESS ON YOUR LICENSE IS NOT CORRECT, NOTIFY THE TRAFFIC (CRIMINAL) DIVISION OF THE GARY CITY CLERK’S OFFICE OF YOUR CURRENT ADDRESS. IF YOUR LICENSE IS SUSPENDED, THERE COULD BE A SUBSTANTIAL FEE FOR THE REINSTATEMENT OF YOUR LICENSE THROUGH THE BUREAU OF MOTOR VEHICLES, BASED ON YOUR DRIVING RECORD.

Courtroom Requirements

The court has imposed the following requirements for all persons entering the Gary City Court:

All persons are subject to search and required to present photo identification if requested. No weapons, cd players, cell phones, recording devices, food or drink.

Appropriate attire is required for court. Unacceptable attire includes hats of any kind, shorts, tank or halter-tops, sagging pants, torn clothing, sandal type shoes, bathing suits or body suits.

Children the age of five (5) years and under are not permitted in the courtroom. For more information, you may contact the GARY CITY COURT at (219) 881-1271.