Criminal/Traffic | Frequently Asked Questions

FCMC
375 South High Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
(614) 645-8186

The first appearance in Court is called an Arraignment Hearing. During Arraignment Court, you are provided an opportunity to plead Guilty, Not Guilty or No Contest before a Judge or Magistrate. Based on your plea, the Judge or Magistrate may do the following: Decide a sentence; assign the case to another Judge; or set the case to be heard before a Jury of your peers. Defendants with multiple cases are typically assigned to the same judge for continuity.

If I received a traffic ticket and due to appear in Court, which Arraignment Courtroom should I report to?

Arraignment hearings for traffic tickets are held in Courtroom 1A and 1B on the 1st floor of 375 S. High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215. Courtroom 1A is for persons with last names beginning with A-K. Courtroom 1B is for persons with last names beginning with L-Z. This information can also be found on your traffic ticket:

For out-of-custody hearings for criminal charges and OVI’s, Arraignment hearings will be held in Courtroom 4C on the 4th floor of 375 S. High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215. Those persons who are in-custody will be arraigned in courtroom 4D.

How long can I expect to be in court?

Multiple cases are scheduled for Arraignment Court every day. Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to predict how long you will be in Court. It is highly recommended that you check-in with the bailiff as soon as you arrive. Cases scheduled in Traffic Court Arraignment are heard in the order individuals are checked-in. Hearings scheduled for an Arraignment are assigned to an individual Judge’s Courtroom and are heard based on the type of hearing and the availability of your attorney.

How will I know when my next court date is?

At the conclusion of your hearing, the bailiff will provide you with your next court date on a slip of paper. You may also receive notice by mail, or you can sign up for text reminders using forms in the Arraignment courtrooms.

How can I obtain an attorney?

For qualified indigent individuals, you may have the option of speaking to a public defender or the Court will assign you an attorney during Arraignment Court. Be sure to tell the court staff upon check-in if you wish to speak to an attorney.

How do I find out someone's bond amount?

For someone being held in the Franklin County Jail System, you can find out their bond amount using our public access website at www.fcmcclerk.com or by calling our public telephone line at 614-645-8186. Bond Information is continually updated during Arraignment Court, so be sure to periodically check the website for updated information.

What should I bring to court?

Please bring a valid form of Identification, proof of insurance for traffic court, program or community service completion certificates, and funds to cover your fine and court costs.

What if I need an Interpreter for my court appearance?

If you need an Interpreter for court, you can request one at your initial appearance. If one is unavailable on that day, your case will be continued in order for the Court to obtain an Interpreter. You will be notified either in person, by mail, or by text message (if you sign up) of your next court date.

What are some possible outcomes from my court appearance?

If you are found guilty, you will be sentenced and given a fine amount and court costs to pay by a date specific.

If you are found not guilty, your case will be dismissed or terminated.

If your case is dismissed, it can either be dismissed with or without payment of court costs.

Your case may also be continued, in which case you will receive another court date either in person, by mail, or by text message (if you sign up).

How do I get something expunged?

Every situation is different. For more information, please call our Expungement Department at 614-645-1706.

I want to get my record sealed. What do I do? What is the procedure?

You must submit an application for Sealing of Record. If you do not have your own attorney, you may download the forms here: http://www.fcmcclerk.com/forms/criminal-traffic.

In the alternative, visit the Self Help Resource Center at 375 South High Street, 6th Floor, Columbus, Ohio 43215. The Center’s hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There is no fee for their services.

How much does it cost to apply for a Sealing of Record?

There is a one-time application fee of $50 to apply for record sealing for any number of convictions and/or bail forfeitures. There is no filing fee for dismissals or findings of not guilty.

Do I need an attorney to file for a sealing of record?

You do not need an attorney, however, we highly recommend that you have some legal assistance at a minimum. The Self Help Resource Center, identified in a previous FAQ is available to provide such assistance free of charge.

How do I get a copy of my sealed record?

There are two ways to obtain copies of a sealed record. The record must belong to you, it cannot belong to someone else.

First, you may visit the Expungement Department window at 375 South High Street, 2nd floor, Columbus, Ohio 43215. You must bring your government-issued picture identification. We cannot release records to anyone without proper identification.
Second, you may mail in a written request for the sealed record. The request must include a notarized photocopy of your government-issued picture identification. If you submit a written request, you may authorize us to release copies of the sealed record to a third party or yourself. Written requests that do not meet the stated criteria will be returned to you.

How can I find my ticket online?

The most efficient way to find your ticket on our website (www.fcmcclerk.com) is to search for it using the ticket number only. It typically takes three to five business days for your ticket to be entered, but it can take longer especially following a holiday. If you can’t find it after five business days please call our office at 614-645-8186.

If I received a ticket for going under 10 mph over the speed limit, how much will my ticket cost?

Provided that you only have one charge, the total cost of your traffic ticket may be $152 dollars as long as you pay the full amount on or before the court date. It usually takes three to five business days for your ticket to appear on this website, but it could take longer.

If I received a ticket for going between 10-19 mph over the speed limit, how much will my ticket cost?

Provided that you only have one charge, the total cost of your traffic ticket may be $172 dollars if paid on or before the court date. It usually takes three to five business days for your ticket to appear on this website, but it could take longer.

If I received a ticket for going more than 20 mph over the speed limit, how much will my ticket cost?

Provided that you only have one charge, the total cost of your traffic ticket may be $192 dollars if paid on or before the court date. It usually takes three to five business days for your ticket to appear on this website, but it could take longer.

If I received a ticket for going under 10 mph over the speed limit in a construction zone, how much will my ticket cost?

Provided that you only have one charge, the total cost of your speeding ticket in a construction zone may be $207 dollars if paid on or before the court date. It usually takes three to five business days for your ticket to appear on the website, but it could take longer.

If I received a ticket for going between 10-19 mph over the speed limit in a construction zone, how much will my ticket cost?

Provided that you only have one charge, the total cost of your speeding ticket in a construction zone may be $247 dollars, if paid on or before the court date. It usually takes three to five business days for your ticket to appear on the website but it could take longer.

If I received a ticket for going more than 20 mph over the speed limit in a construction zone, how much will my ticket cost?

Provided that you only have one charge, the total cost of your speeding ticket in a construction zone may be $287 dollars, if paid on or before the court date. It usually takes three to five business days for your ticket to appear on the website but it could take longer.

How do I pay a Bond in person at the courthouse?

To pay a Bond in person, please visit the 2nd Floor Criminal/Traffic Division of the Clerk’s Office located at 375 South High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215. Bond payments must be made with cash or credit card only and current identification is required. After you pay the Bond, the Clerk’s Office will send all necessary documentation to the jail. The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office should release the defendant within 6 to 12 hours as long as no additional holders appear in a background check. If you don’t know how much the Bond is, you may call the Clerk’s Office at 614-645-8186.

How can I provide my Proof of Insurance?

If you have a ticket to pay and you still need to provide Proof of Insurance, you may do one of the following: go to www.fcmcclerk.com, look up your ticket on the website and complete the information on the website (see example below); mail a copy of your insurance card with your payment; or provide it to the cashier if paying in person at the Clerk’s Office.

I just received a traffic ticket - Why can’t I find it online?

It usually takes three to five business days for your ticket to appear on the website.

Can I reschedule my Court date?

We do not reschedule Court dates through the website; however, if your ticket is in the system and it is not assigned to a Judge, you may stop by the Clerk’s Office at 375 S. High Street, 2nd Floor, Columbus, Ohio 43215, Monday – Friday between the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. to be added to the docket. If you have a warrant because you missed a Court date, you won’t be arrested; your warrant will be set aside upon your appearance in the court room. Assigned cases and certain other cases do not qualify for add-ons, so, please call our office at 614-645-8186 for more information.

How do I find out my Court date?

If you just received a ticket, the Court date is located at the bottom of your ticket. For other situations, try searching for your case using only the case number, ticket number, or call our office at 614-645-8186.

Can I get an extension?

If you haven’t been to court yet, please appear on your court date to ask for an extension or a time payment plan. If you’ve already been sentenced, please call us before your due date so we can review your situation, call 614-645-8186.

When is the payment for my Traffic ticket due?

For cases that do not require you to appear in Court, the Court date is your due date. Should you need more time, please consider appearing in Court on your due date to ask for more time to pay.

How do I check to see if I have an Active Warrant?

Please visit our website at www.fcmcclerk.com to search for warrants under your name. You may also call our office at 614-645-8186. We can only confirm warrants that we have entered, so if you have a warrant through another court, this office may not be able to access the information.

If I pay my traffic ticket, do I still have to appear in Court?

As long as no appearance is required, you may pay the ticket and the case will be closed. Note: If you pay a ticket, you have essentially entered a guilty plea and waived your right to contest the ticket in Court.

Am I required to pay the Arraignment Fee if I do not need to appear in Court?

Yes, the Arraignment Fee is included in Court Costs and Fees assessed by the Court for all tickets.

Can I pay my Traffic Ticket over the phone?

No, we do not accept phone payments.

What is the address of the Franklin County Municipal Court Clerk's Office?

Our address is 375 South High St., Columbus, OH 43215. The Clerk of Court Criminal/Traffic Division is located on the 2nd Floor. We are open to the public 7 days a week 24 hours a day.

If I posted Bond, when can I expect to receive my refund?

After the case or cases are completed, please allow at least four to six weeks to receive your refund. If you still haven’t received the refund after six weeks, please call our office at 614-645-8186.

I paid my Traffic Ticket by mail, but I received a postcard in the mail saying that I could get a Warrant issued for my arrest. What is going on?

Postcards are sent out automatically if the Clerk’s Office has not received your payment by the Court date. The good news is that the post marked date on the envelope is the official date received. As long as the post marked date shows that you mailed your payment on or before the Court date, you will not be charged a late fee and your case will reflect payment in full.

A Certified Court Record contains a Clerk’s Office stamp determining that the record is a copy of the Court’s true and original document. It carries a signature of a sworn-in Deputy Clerk and a raised seal.
A Notarized Document is one that has been certified by a Notary Public.