KATHY LEGGETT, BEDFORD HEIGHTS CLERK OF COURTS - (440) 786-3280
The Bedford Municipal Court is located at 165 Center Road in Bedford, Ohio as part of the New Bedford City Government complex. To find the court from Bedford Heights City Hall, turn right on to Perkins to Rockside, turn left on Rockside to Warrensville (Center) Road, turn left on Center to 165 Center Street, the Municipal Center. Court is set back off the road behind and opposite the Fire Department.
Bedford Municipal Court - Traffic/Criminal
Ross Cirincione serves Bedford Heights as the Prosecutor as well as Law Director. Mr. Cirincione is assisted at Court at times by a member of the Reddy, Grau & Meek Law firm.
Mr. Cirincione served as the city’s Assistant Law Director from 2004 until his appointment as Law Director in January of 2008. Mr. Cirincione is also an attorney in the law firm of Reddy, Grau & Meek. Deborah M. Turner is currently the city’s Assistant Prosecutor and Assistant Law Director.
The Clerk of Courts for the Bedford Municipal Court is Thomas E. Day, Jr. However, Kathy Leggett serves as Clerk of Courts for the City of Bedford Heights.
Kathy was appointed to this position July of 2010.
General information:
Bedford Heights Waiver Bureau
Phone: (440) 786-3280
5661 Perkins Road
Bedford Heights OH 44146
Business Hours:
Monday - Friday (except holidays)
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
The Clerk of Courts office is staffed by one full time employee, Kathy Leggett. Their responsibilities include preparing all tickets, summons, and warrant and affidavits that have been issued by Police Officers within the jurisdiction of the City of Bedford Heights. All activity concerning each ticket is tracked until its completion.
Within the Clerk of Courts Office is a Waiver Bureau. Officers may issue tickets whose offense may be waived provided they are within the guidelines. The guidelines include, but are not limited, to the following:
At time of payment Defendant must understand that they are entering a plea of guilty to the stated charge.
Insurance is to be provided by Defendant to the officer at the time of the traffic stop or to the Clerk of Courts office when payment is made.
Speeding violations may be waived up to twenty miles over the speed limit. All violations over twenty (20) miles are court appearance only.
Tickets issued that involve an accident may be waived provided the Defendant has insurance and damage to vehicles is minor.
You can also pay all waiverable offenses via credit card in person at the Clerk of Courts window in the City of Bedford Heights Police Department.
We have provided the Schedule of Waiver Fees for your convenience.
WAIVER FEES
CHAPTER 313
Traffic Control Devices
**MM
Section: Violation: Amount 2nd in 1yr-M4
313.01 Obedience to Traffic Control Devices $95.00 MM
313.02 Through streets; stop and yield right of way $95.00 MM
313.03 Traffic Control signal terms and lights $95.00 MM
Chapter 331, 335
Operations Generally
331.05 Overtaking, passing to left of center $95.00 MM
331.07 Hazardous or no passing zones $95.00 MM
331.08 Continuous lines of traffic $95.00 MM
331.09 Following too closely $95.00 MM
331.10 Turning at intersections $95.00 MM
331.12 “U” turns restricted $95.00 MM
331.14 Change of course, turning or stopping $95.00 MM
331.16 Right of way at intersections $95.00 MM
331.17 Right of way when turning left $95.00 MM
331.19 Operation of vehicle at stop sign $95.00 MM
331.21 Right of way of public safety vehicle $95.00 MM
331.30 One-way streets and rotary traffic islands $95.00 MM
331.34 Failure to Control; weaving; full time attention $95.00 MM
331.42 Shortcutting; across private property $95.00 MM
331.43 Littering from motor vehicle $95.00 MM
331.44 Wearing earplugs or earphones prohibited $95.00 MM
333.03 Assured Clear Distance $95.00 MM
335.01 Expired Operator’s License – 30 day exp. $95.00 MM
Minor Accidents
(no personal injury and must have proof of insurance) $140.00 MM
Chapter 337
Safety and Equipment
**MM
Section: Violation: Amount 2nd in 1yr-M4
337.01 Driving unsafe vehicles $95.00 MM
337.02 Lighted lights $95.00 MM
337.04 Tail light: illumination or rear license plate $95.00 MM
337.-- All other safety and equipment violations $95.00 MM
337.27 Child restraint system usage $44.00 MM
337.271 Driver’s restraint system usage $54.00 MM
337.271 Passenger’s restraint system usage $44.00 MM
All fines collected for violation of Section 337.27 and 337.271 shall be forwarded to Treasurer of State for Deposit.
CHAPTER 339
Commercial and Heavy Vehicles
**MM
Section: Violation: Amount 2nd in 1yr-M4
339.02 Use of local streets; local permit $95.00 MM
339.08 Loads dropping or leaking $95.00 MM
339.09 Shifting load; loose loads $95.00 MM
339.11 Use of studded tires and chains $95.00 MM
339.12 Use of right-hand lanes $95.00 MM
333.03 Speeding Violations (See attached Waiver Schedule)
Prices reflect 20 mph, 25 mph, 35, mph zones
An additional $20.00 will be added for speeding violations that occur in school zones.
**MM
Section: Violation: Amount 2nd in 1yr-M4
One to Ten miles over speed limit $90.00 MM
Eleven miles over speed limit $92.00 MM
Twelve miles over speed limit $94.00 MM
Thirteen miles over speed limit $96.00 MM
Fourteen miles over speed limit $98.00 MM
Fifteen miles over speed limit $100.00 MM
Sixteen miles over speed limit $102.00 MM
Seventeen miles over speed limit $104.00 MM
Eighteen miles over speed limit $106.00 MM
Nineteen miles over speed limit $108.00 MM
Twenty miles over speed limit $110.00 MM
Prices reflect a 60 mph zone
One to Ten miles over speed limit $100.00
Eleven miles over speed limit $103.00
Twelve miles over speed limit $106.00
Thirteen miles over speed limit $109.00
Fourteen miles over speed limit $112.00
Fifteen miles over speed limit $115.00
Sixteen miles over speed limit $118.00
Seventeen miles over speed limit $121.00
Eighteen miles over speed limit $124.00
Nineteen miles over speed limit $127.00
Twenty miles over speed limit $130.00
By paying a waiver, you are entering a Plea of Guilty. Waiver payment amounts include State Costs of $24.00 (also known as the Ohio Reparations Rotary Fund).
$15.00 to the General Revenue Fund, and $9.00 to the Victims of Crime Fund.
Bedford Municipal Court: The Bedford Municipal Court is serviced primarily by Judge Harry J. Jacob III and Judge Brian J. Melling with the assistance of several Magistrates.
COURT PROCEDURES
When your name is called, you will approach the Judge's Bench. The charge (violation) will be read to you and you will be asked what your plea is. You may plead Not Guilty, Guilty, or No Contest.
If you plead Not Guilty, you are in effect denying the truth of the charge. The matter will be set for trial, and the prosecutor will be required to prove every element of the charge beyond a reasonable doubt before a guilty finding may be made. You have the right to a trial by jury, in every criminal case other than a minor misdemeanor, or a trial to the Court. You also have the right to cross-examine the witness or witnesses called against you, the right to subpoena witnesses to appear on your behalf, and the right not to testify, if you so choose.
If you plead Guilty, you are admitting guilt. The Court will seek an explanation of the circumstances from the complainant or prosecutor, and ask you if there is any explanation you wish to make or additional information you wish to offer in mitigation before sentence is imposed. The Court will thereafter impose the penalty it feels is appropriate in the circumstances.
If you plead No Contest, you are not admitting guilt, but you are admitting the truth of the facts as alleged in the indictment, information or complaint. The plea of no contest cannot be used against you in any subsequent civil or criminal proceeding. The Court will seek an explanation of the circumstances as they are set forth in the complaint, as they are presented by the prosecution, or as they are presented by the complainant. The Court will also ask you if you have any further explanation of the circumstances or any information you wish to offer in mitigation of punishment. The Court will then make a finding of guilty or not guilty. If the finding is guilty, the Court will impose the penalty it feels is appropriate under the circumstances.
When the Court's judgment is announced, if you are found Not Guilty you will be ordered discharged forthwith. If you are found Guilty, you will be remanded to the custody of the bailiff or other authorized personnel to carry out the Court's penalty.
Cash, money orders, personal checks (if approved by the Court) MasterCard and VISA are accepted for payment of fines and court costs. All fines and costs are due in full at time of sentencing.
Non-citizens of the United States of America are required upon appearance to inform the Court of their legal status.
RIGHTS IN COURT
The right to be informed of the nature of the charge, the identity of the complainant, and the right to see or read the complaint.
The right to an attorney and a reasonable continuance to obtain the services of an attorney.
In certain cases other than minor traffic offenses, if you are unemployed and/or without sufficient assets to hire an attorney, the Court will appoint an attorney for you. In such cases, you must complete an Affidavit of Indigency provided to you by the Court, and the Court will then determine whether to appoint an attorney for you based upon the facts presented in the affidavit.
· The right to plead not guilty, guilty or no contest to the violation for which you have been charged.
· The right to a trial by jury in certain cases or trial to the Court.
· The right to cross-examine any witness who is called to testify against you.
· The right to inform the Court of any fact or circumstance you feels the Court should know.
· The right to testify or not testify in your own defense.
· The right to choose not to appear before a Traffic Magistrate in lieu of an appearance before a judge.
The Bedford Municipal Court is authorized to hear misdemeanor criminal and traffic cases that involve offenses occurring within its geographic jurisdiction, and civil cases within its monetary jurisdiction of $15,000.00 or less. The Small Claims Division of the Court deals with civil cases in which the amount is $3,000 or less.
The Bedford Municipal Court has jurisdiction over the following communities: Bedford, Bedford Heights, Bentleyville, Chagrin Falls, Chagrin Falls Township, Glenwillow, Highland Hills, Moreland Hills, North Randall, Oakwood, Orange, Solon, Warrensville Heights and Woodmere. Court hours are Monday through Friday (except holidays) 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. The Bedford Municipal Court website is www.bedfordmuni.org.
