Deferred Disposition is the probation option in municipal court. The judge may defer (postpone) the disposition of your case and place you on probation for up to 180 days.
You must enter a plea of guilty or no contest, pay a fee (usually equal to the amount of the fine), commit no other offenses during the probation period, and comply with any other terms or reasonable conditions the Judge may order. If you successfully complete your deferral period, your case will be dismissed, and no conviction will be reported on your record.
Eligibility Requirements
You may be eligible for Deferred Disposition if:
- You are 25 years of age or older
- You were charged with an eligible traffic or parking offense
- You plead Guilty or No Contest
- You do not hold a Commercial Driver License (CDL)
- For speeding violations, your speed was less than 25 mph over the posted speed limit
- For speeding violations, your speed was not over 95 mph
- The violation did not occur in a construction or maintenance zone when workers were present
- You are not currently on Deferred Disposition probation
- You have not been on Deferred Disposition probation within the last 12 months
Some non-traffic violations may also be eligible. Contact the Municipal Court for case-specific information.
Juveniles
Defendants under 17 years of age must appear in person with a parent or legal guardian to request Deferred Disposition.
How to Request Deferred Disposition
All requests must be made in person within 11 days from the date the offense occurred.
To request Deferred Disposition, bring:
- Valid driver’s license
- Proof of insurance listing you as a driver
If eligible, the Court will provide the required forms and explain the next steps.
Failure to Comply
If you fail to comply with any term or condition of your Deferred Disposition order, you will be required to appear before the Judge.
At that time, the Court will determine whether the deferral should be revoked and whether a conviction should be entered.