Paying Tickets	How Do I Get My Car Out of the Tow Lot?

It’s easy to pay traffic or parking tickets at Garfield Heights Municipal Court – in-person, by mail, by phone or online. On the back of the ticket, there is information about how it can be paid. To make a payment now, click e-Payments.

Some tickets are for waiverable violations. Waiverable violations are usually minor offenses. The offender can waive their right to trial by pleading guilty and paying the ticket in full, before their scheduled court appearance. If the offender cannot pay the amount in full or if they wish to enter a plea, a court appearance is required.

The instructions for waiving a traffic violation are found on the back of the ticket issued by the police officer.  If your ticket is checked “Personal Appearance Required” (bottom right hand of ticket) your ticket is not waiverable – you must go to court. If a person does not waive the violation according to the instructions they must appear in court as scheduled or a warrant may be issued for their arrest. 

Waiver Requirements

In order to pay a citation by waiver, you must meet the following requirements:

1. Have one of the waiverable offenses listed in the table below.
2. Have no more than one prior moving violation within the past 12 months.
3. Enter a plea of guilty which is a complete admission of guilt to the citation.
4. Read the ticket carefully. Sign the reverse side of the citation, and return it with payment.
5. Have total waiver payment to the Court before assigned court date.

List of Waiverable Offenses and Costs

Non-Waiverable Offenses

A lot will be decided at the initial appearance. The court can order that the seized vehicle and its plates be returned to the defendant/ owner, subject to the owner paying the towing and storage charges.  If the court orders the release, the order will state the vehicle may be subject to immobilization or forfeiture.  If the vehicle is ordered released, a copy of the order will be given to the vehicle owner.  The owner can present a copy of the order to the law enforcement agency to obtain a release of the vehicle and its plates.

At the initial appearance, if the court does not release the vehicle and its plates, the court will order that the vehicle be kept at the impound lot or towed to the vehicle owner’s residence, or another place approved by the court, and clubbed.  The vehicle owner also has to pay for the expense of clubbing the vehicle.

If the vehicle and plates are ordered to be kept at the impound lot or clubbed at another location, it is known as a pretrial immobilization.  The vehicle cannot be immobilized for a longer time than the court can order as part of the sentence if that person was found guilty of the offense. The court will credit the time the car was immobilized between the seizure of the vehicle and the order of immobilization.