Municipal Court

City of Rio Hondo Municipal Court 

121 N. Arroyo Blvd.,  

Rio Hondo, Texas 78583 

Presiding Judge:     Jessica A Gonzales

Court Clerk:              Rosalynn Martinez

• Office:(956) 748-2102 
• Fax:(956) 748-4394 
• Email:Court@riohondo.us  
• Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm 
• Court Sessions: Monday and Friday 3:00pm - 5:00pm

In this Department

• Jurisdiction 
• Court Procedures 
• Failure to Appear 
• Jury Duty 
• Paying Tickets 
• Fines 
• Alcohol Related Offenses 
• Department Home

Welcome to the City of Rio Hondo Municipal Court web page. We hope that you find this site with the needed information regarding  our court procedures so that you may determine the best course of action regarding your violation. The Municipal Court strives to serve our internal and external communities with integrity, professionalism and the highest level of customer service while providing a variety of services. 

The Municipal Court's primary function is to process all Class C Criminal charges filed by the Police Department and Code Enforcement Officers alleged to have occurred within the city limits of the City of Rio Hondo. These include charges filed under the Texas Transportation Code, Penal Code, Alcoholic Beverage Code, Health and Safety Code, Education Code and the City of Rio Hondo of Ordinances. 

Mission Statement: 

The Municipal Court will perform its job competently, efficiently, and fairly in order to merit public confidence. The Municipal Court will rely on Public confidence in order to enforce its orders. Municipal Court has a duty to create and maintain such public confidence in an order that persons can rely on the protection of the rights that all citizens have under the constitution of the United States. It has and will always be the intention of the Municipal Court to treat all citizens that come before the Court with respect, dignity and courtesy without regard to their race, color and or religion. 

Traffic Violations: 

Include moving and non-moving violations, commercial vehicle violations, failure to maintain financial responsibility, no driver's license, etc. 

Parking Violations: 

Violations of the city parking ordinances. 

Class C Misdemeanors: 

Offenses punishable by a fine not to exceed $500 and including public intoxication, theft (less than $100), disorderly conduct, alcohol offenses involving minors, and assaults. 

Violations of City Ordinance: 

Violations of city codes including those for fire safety, zoning, public health and sanitation, animal control, and solid waste. 

Appearance
The law requires you to make an appearance on your case. Your appearance or Court date is noted on your citation. You (or your attorney) may do this in person before the Judge or in writing by mail or fax. For your convenience, there is a signature line and a plea line on the bottom of the citation which can be used as a written "appearance” or written notification. 


Pleas
You must enter one of these three pleas: 

• Guilty- means you admit guilt and either wish to give an explanation or just pay the fine. Once the fine is paid the case is closed. To view form, please click here. 
• No Contender (no contest) means that you personally do not want to admit guilt, but you do not want to contest the charge(s) in a trial. You may pay the fine; give an explanation or present proof of compliance. The Judge will review your case and will determine whether he finds you guilty, sets a fine or dismisses the charge(s). To view form, please click here. 
• Not Guilty- Means you deny guilt and want a bench or jury trial to be set at a later date in this Court. You must post a bond set by the Judge to ensure that you will be present for the trial. To view form, please click here. 

You may also enter a plea without appearing in Court by printing and filling out the “Plea Without Appearance” form. To view form please click here. 

Driver's Safety Courses (DSC)  
If you are charged with a traffic offense, you may request DSC. The request must be made before the appearance date on the citation. You must enter a plea of guilty or no contest; present a Texas DL and current insurance to the court; pay a fee of $144. You will have 90 days to complete DSC. Upon presenting a certificate of completion to the Court, the Judge may dismiss the offense.  To view form, please click here.


Deferred Disposition 
The judge may grant deferred disposition (place on probationary period 30-60-90 or 180 days) most offenses. The request must be made in writing before the appearance date on the citation. If you do not violate any laws of the US during the probationary period, the Judge may dismiss the offense. The deferral fee for traffic violations (call the Court), TABC violations (call the Court), (call the Court) for Public Intoxication and Ordinances, and (Call the Court) for other offenses.  To view form, please click here.


Inspection/Registration/No DL
Expired Vehicle Inspection, Invalid Registration or Failure to Display Driver's License/Expired DL cases may be dismissed at the Judge's discretion if the defect is remedied by your appearance date and proof is presented in writing to the Court (a $20 fee is required).


Failure to Provide Financial Responsibility
If you present evidence of financial responsibility (insurance), valid at the time of the offense, to the Court on or before your appearance date this violation may be dismissed at Judge's discretion. 
 

Fines and Fees 

If you are convicted of an offense and are unable to pay the fine and court costs, you may have the court assess your ability to pay and the court may provide alternatives to full payment in satisfying the judgment. 

If you fail to appear in-person, by mail, email or fax by the date noted on your citation, you can be charged with an additional offense of "Violations Of Promise To Appear" or "Failure to Appear" and a warrant for your arrest will be issued. 

The offenses of "Violation of Promise to Appear" and "Failure to Appear" carry with them additional court costs, fees, and fines. 

TO THE CITY OF RIO HONDO JURORS:

You have been selected for JURY SERVICE in the Municipal Court of the City of Rio Hondo. Jury service is an obligation of citizenship which is essential to the judicial process. It is an opportunity for you to make a meaningful contribution to ensure that justice is provided in our community.

The Judge of the Municipal Court recognizes that jury service entails an imposition on the citizens called for jury service. In order to minimize the burden caused by your jury service, report promptly at the date and time indicated to the City Hall Building located at 121 N. Arroyo Blvd., Rio Hondo, Texas 78583.

To download and print the Juror Information Sheet please click here.