Vandalia Municipal Court

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Hours/Location

Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday

The Court will be closed for the following holidays:

New Year’s Day
Martin Luther King Day
President’s Day
Good Friday (1/2 day p.m.)
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Columbus Day
Election Day (1/2 day p.m.)
Veteran’s Day
Thanksgiving Day & Day after
Christmas Day

Location: West of I-75, Exit 63

Directions to the Court:

The Vandalia Municipal Court is located at 245 James E. Bohanan Memorial Drive in Vandalia, Ohio.

South on I-75, take exit 63, turn right at the light. Turn right on James E. Bohanan Memorial Drive.

North on I-75, take exit 63, turn left at the light. Turn right on James E. Bohanan Memorial Drive.

Route 40 West, turn right on James E. Bohanan Memorial Drive.

Route 40 East, turn left on Maple Street; turn right on James E. Bohanan Memorial Drive.

PUBLIC PARKING IS LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF JAMES E. BOHANAN MEMORIAL DRIVE AND MAPLE STREET

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Monetary Jurisdictions of the Court

Civil	$15,000.00 (If the claim is for an amount greater than $15,000.00, it should be filed in the Court of Common Pleas.)
Small Claims	$3,000.00

Territorial Jurisdictions of the Court

Montgomery County Townships of: Butler, Harrison; Cities of: Clayton, Englewood, Union and Vandalia.

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Civil	Civil Complaints may be filed for an amount not to exceed $15,000.00. If amount is greater than $15,000 the Complaint may be filed in the Court of Common Pleas. Please select this link to view Civil Forms.
Small Claims	Small Claims Petitions are available at the Clerk of Courts office and may be filed in accordance with 1925 O.R.C. for an amount not to exceed $3,000.00. All Small Claims are referred to mediation unless one or more of the parties are located outside of Ohio. If mediation is not successful, the case will be set for trial before the magistrate. Click here to view the Small Claims Petition.
Criminal Violations	Minor Misdemeanor (MM) charges, as well as Misdemeanor 1 (M1), Misdemeanor 2 (M2), Misdemeanor 3 (M3), and Misdemeanor 4 (M4), are filed and remain in this Court through the sentencing process. Upon filing of felony charges, this Court will hold the initial appearance and Preliminary Hearing, after which time it may proceed in the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas.
Traffic Violations	Traffic violations classified as a Minor Misdemeanor (MM), in addition to Misdemeanor 1 (M1), Misdemeanor 2 (M2), Misdemeanor 3 (M3) and Misdemeanor 4 (M4), are filed and remain in this Court through sentencing.
Waiver Bureau	The Waiver Bureau has been established to allow an individual to post a waiver amount in lieu of going to Court. Not all charges are such that a waiver amount may be posted. Click here to view the Waiver Cost Schedule.

Possible Maximum Sentence

Classification	Confinement	Individual Fine
M1	up to 6 months	up to $1,000.00
M2	up to 90 days	up to $750.00
M3	up to 60 days	up to $500.00
M4	up to 30 days	up to $250.00
MM	None	up to $150.00

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•	Court normally convenes Monday through Friday at 8:30 a.m.
•	When your case is called you will be required to enter one of the following pleas:

1.	Guilty – If you feel you are guilty. In this case the matter will be disposed of immediately.
2.	Not Guilty – If you feel you are not guilty, or if you are in doubt. Your case will then be continued to a later date for trial or other disposition.
3.	No Contest – Generally used in accident cases. You give up the hearsay rule and allow the Court to make a finding of “guilty” or “not guilty” from the papers in your case and any comment you might have.

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These offenses require a Court appearance:

•	Any Felony Or Indictable Offense
•	Operating a Motor Vehicle Under The Influence Of Alcohol Or Drugs Of Abuse Or Permitting Another To Do So
•	Leaving The Scene/Personal Injury Or Death Resulting
•	Driving While Under Suspension Or Revocation
•	Third Or More Moving Violations Within Twelve (12) Months
•	Eluding Or Fleeing A Police Officer
•	Drag Racing
•	Driver’s License Violation
•	Allow A Minor To Drive (No O.L.)
•	Physical Control Of A Motor Vehicle
•	31 MPH over posted speed zone

Traffic Court Rights

These offenses do not require a Court appearance if you have not had two other
moving violations within the last twelve (12) months:

SPEED: 1st or 2nd Speeding Violations within one year, with Waiver amount.

1-20 MPH over $130.00
21-30 MPH over $140.00

PUCO Violations $150.00 Waiver amount

$130.00 Category–Minor Misdemeanor Moving Violations

•	Slow Speed
•	Improper Turn
•	Turn Signals
•	Operate Without Reasonable Control
•	Red Light/Stop Sign
•	Prohibited Or U-Turn
•	Improper Lane Use/Marked Lanes
•	Space Between Vehicles/Following Too Close
•	Stop At Railroad Crossing
•	Improper Passing On Right
•	Left Of Center
•	One Way Streets
•	Towing Requirements
•	Accident

You may pay the stated amount on-line with a Visa or MasterCard, in person at the Clerk of Courts office, or you may send a money order or certified check made payable to the Vandalia Municipal Court, along with the ticket signed on the back with proof of insurance. If you wish a receipt,
or the officer kept your license, please enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
Payments may be made in person by one of the following methods: cash, money order,
certified check, Visa or MasterCard, if the card is in your name. No personal checks accepted.

If a personal appearance is required, bring proof of liability insurance for the date of your
traffic violation. Proof of insurance may be a form or letter from your agent, current face
sheet of your policy, indicating your name and the vehicle you were driving. If you were
driving another individual’s vehicle, and your name is not on their policy, you must bring
a letter or form, signed by their agent or yours, showing that you were covered driving that car.

$130.00 Category–Minor Misdemeanor Non-Moving Violations

•	No Helmet Or Face Shield
•	Muffler/Excess Noise
•	Obstructing View
•	Tinted Windows
•	Failure To Display License Plates
•	Failure To File Registration
•	Unsafe Vehicle
•	Equipment Violations

Seat Belt

•	Driver $111.00
•	Passenger $101.00

Overloads

Click to view Court Cost Schedule

PAYMENT

FAILURE TO APPEAR OR PAY THE FINE MAY SUBJECT YOU TO ARREST AND/OR
WARRANT BLOCK ON RENEWAL OF YOUR REGISTRATION AND OPERATOR’S LICENSE.

PLEASE NOTE: ALL TICKETS MUST BE PAID BEFORE THE COURT DATE ON THE BOTTOM OF YOUR TICKET.

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•	If an officer or agency is unable to determine, at the scene, whether or not the facts presented meet the elements necessary to prosecute a specific charge, the matter may be referred to a prosecutor for further review to determine if charges may be filed.
•	The prosecutor normally sees private complainants on Friday at 11:00 a.m.
•	You are required to have a copy of the Police Report with you if it has not already been sent to the Court by the agency that issued the report. (See "Links" page for police department information.)

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Media types: paper, computer and microfiche.

*Law is in process of being changed

Record	Time Kept
Annual Report	Permanent in accordance with Sup. R. 26
Monthly Reports – Ohio Supreme Court	5 Years Incorp. into Annual Report
Communications Records (Includes routine telephone, voice & e-mail messages on any medium)	May be destroyed in the normal course of business as soon as they are considered to be of no value by the person holding them (Sup. R. 26)
Administrative Journal (Consists of Court entries, or a record of Court entries, regarding policies and issues not related to Court cases)	Permanent in accordance with Sup. R. 26
Correspondence & General Office Records	May be destroyed in the normal course of business as soon as they are considered to be of no value by the person holding them (Sup. R. 26)
Drafts & Informal Notes (Consisting of transitory information used to prepare the official record in any other form)	May be destroyed in the normal course of business as soon as they are considered to be of no value by the person holding them (Sup. R. 26)
Unsolicited Mail	Until no longer administratively needed
Laws, Ordinances, Administrative Rules (Local, County, State & Federal)	4 Years or after revised or rescinded
Index (1960-1985)	25 Years
Index (1986)	25 Years
Journal (Combined Records, to include indexes, journals & case files) 1985-1991	10 Years
Journal (Combined Records, to include indexes, dockets, journals & case summary) 1991-Present	10 Years
Journal (Combined Records, to include dockets, journals & case summary) 1986-Present	25 Years
Civil Case Files	5 Years after Final Appealable Order and audited (Sup. R. 26)
Civil Case Summary	10 Years after Final Appealable Order and audited (Sup. R. 26)
Civil Case Journal Entry	25 Years after Final Appealable Order and audited (Sup. R. 26)
DUI Case Files	7 Years after final order of the court
DUI Case Summary	10 Years after final order of the court
DUI Case Journal Entry	25 Years after the final order of the court
First through Fourth Degree Misdemeanor Traffic Case Files	2 Years after the date of the final order of the court and audited (Sup. R. 26)
First through Fourth Degree Misdemeanor Criminal Case Files	5 Years after the date of the final order of the court and audited (Sup. E. 26)
First through Fourth Degree Misdemeanor Traffic and Criminal Case Summary	10 Years after the date of the final order of the court and audited (Sup. R. 26)
First through Fourth Degree Misdemeanor Traffic and Criminal Case Journal Entry	25 Years after the date of the final order of the court and audited (Sup. R. 26)
Minor Misdemeanor Traffic Case Files	2 Years after the date of the final order of the court and audited (Sup. R. 26)
Minor Misdemeanor Criminal Case Files	5 Years after the date of the final order of the court and audited (Sup. R. 26)
Minor Misdemeanor Traffic and Minor Misdemeanor Criminal Case Summary	10 Years after the date of the final order of the court and audited (Sup. R. 26)
Minor Misdemeanor Traffic and Minor Misdemeanor Criminal Case Journal Entry	25 Years after the date of the final order of the court and audited (Sup. R. 26)
Felony Case Files	5 Years after final order of the court
Felony Case Summary	10 Years after the final order of the court
Felony Case Journal Entry	25 Years after final order of the court
Search Warrant Records	5 Years after final order of the court
Annual Budget (Court copy)	5 Years provided Audit
Fiscal Records (Includes copies or transactional budgeting and purchasing documents)	3 Years and audited (Sup. R. 26)
Cash Books (Includes disbursement and receipt ledgers)	7 Years and audited (Sup. R. 26)
Receipts Records (Receipt and Balancing Records: Includes bank records, cancelled checks, vouchers & witness fees)	3 Years and audited (Sup. R. 26)
Request for Proposals, Bids, and Resulting Contracts	3 Years after the expiration of the contract that is awarded pursuant to the request for proposal. (Sup. R. 26)
Grant Records (Court copy)	6 Years after expiration of Grant and provided audited
Probation Files (Pre-sentence Investigations, medical and psychological reports, alcohol evaluations, restitution and program history, relevant reports)	3 Years after completion of terms of probation and provided audited.
Probation Tracking (Summary of case history)	5 Years
Probation Tracking Report	1 Year
Probation Tracking Report	2 Years
Video and Audio Tapes	3 Years and no longer of Admin. or Legal Value, erase and reuse
Court Transcripts	3 Years after case closed and no actions or claims pending

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If you wish to have any type of statistics that may be available as part of the annual report, please contact the court.

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COURT ADMINISTRATION AND GENERAL RULES (Click here to download and/or print a pdf)
1.00	COURT SESSIONS
2.00	CLERK OF COURTS
2.01	RECORDS
2.02	COPIES
2.03	NUMBERING
2.04	PAPERS FILED WITH THE COURT
2.05	FAXES
2.06	COMPUTATION OF TIME
3.00	TRIAL ATTORNEY OF RECORD
4.00	APPOINTED AND ACTING JUDGES AND MAGISTRATES
5.00	MAGISTRATES
5.01	OBJECTIONS TO MAGISTRATE’S DECISION
6.00	BAILIFF
7.00	JURORS
8.00	WITNESSES AND SUBPOENAS
9.00	RECORDING DEVICES
10.00	SOLICITATION
RULES OF CIVIL PRACTICE (Click here to download and/or print a pdf)
11.00	CIVIL RULES
12.00	CIVIL PROCEDURE
13.00	CIVIL COSTS AND FEES
14.00	EXTENSIONS FOR FILING
15.00	PRE-TRIAL CONFERENCE
16.00	CIVIL JURY TRIAL DEMAND AND DEPOSIT
17.00	BRIEFS
18.00	NOTICE OF TRIAL
19.00	MOTIONS
20.00	ENTRIES AND ORDERS
21.00	CONTINUANCES
22.00	DISMISSAL FOR WANT OF PROSECUTION
SPECIAL PROCEEDINGS (Click here to download and/or print a pdf)
23.00	SMALL CLAIMS COURT
24.00	FORCIBLE ENTRY AND DETAINER PROCEDURE
25.00	PROCEEDINGS IN AID OF EXECUTION
25.01	EXEMPTIONS
26.00	SALES AND CONFIRMATION
27.00	COGNOVIT JUDGMENTS
28.00	TRUSTEESHIPS
29.00	PEACE BOND/WARRANT
30.00	REPLEVIN ACTIONS
31.00	CITATION IN CONTEMPT
32.00	LICENSE SUSPENSION APPEALS
RULES OF CRIMINAL AND TRAFFIC PRACTICE (Click here to download and/or print a pdf)
33.00	CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
34.00	BAILIFF
35.00	DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE COURT
36.00	ARRAIGNMENTS
37.00	PRELIMINARY HEARINGS
38.00	BAIL
39.00	PRETRIAL CONFERENCES
40.00	PLEA BARGAINS
41.00	MOTIONS
42.00	TRIAL BY JURY
43.00	WITNESSES
44.00	VIOLATIONS BUREAU
45.00	CONVICTION RECORDS
CASE MANAGEMENT (Click here to download and/or print a pdf)
46.00	CASE MANAGEMENT IN CIVIL CASES
47.00	CASE MANAGEMENT IN SPECIAL PROCEEDINGS
48.00	CASE MANAGEMENT IN CRIMINAL CASES
49.00	JURY MANAGEMENT

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