Porterdale Municipal Court, Newton County, GA
Please Note: With a limited staff, it is best if you call in advance should you have any in-person business on days we do not have court. By doing so, we can ensure someone will be present to assist you.
Office Closings:
In addition to City recognized holidays, the court office will also be closed on the following days:
12/05/24: Closing at 3:00 p.m.
12/09/24: Closing at 2:00 p.m.
12/20/24: Closing at noon
12/26/24: Closed
12/27/24: Closed
Holidays
12/24/24: Christmas
12/25/24: Christmas
1/01/25: New Year's Day
1/20/25: MLK Day
What To Expect:
Before you arrive, you will save yourself time if you bring only what you need: Your ID and an acceptable form of payment. Cell phones are permitted but must be silenced. You will be screened before entering the courtroom. Weapons including (but not limited to) guns, knives, explosives, and poisonous substances are all prohibited. If you have anything that is considered "harmful", you will be asked to place those items in your vehicle. No food or drinks (other than bottled water) shall be permitted in the courtroom.
Be sure to sign-in after entering the courtroom. The sign-in sheet will be located at the courtroom entrance.
While there are some exceptions, typically your name is called in the order of arrival. Remain seated until your name is called and keep conversations at a whisper. Well-behaved children are welcomed. If disruptions occur, we request that you exit the court room.
Court Attire:
Clothing should be conservative and respectful of the Court. Refrain from wearing hats, sunglasses, halter/tank tops, shorts, flip-flops, pajama bottoms, low-cut tops, and miniskirts. If you are cold-natured, a light jacket or sweater may be necessary. If you are dressed in a manner that is disrespectful to the Court, you will be asked to leave and return at a later date or you will be held in contempt which may result in either incarceration, a fine, or both. This will delay your case and require you to appear in court more than once.
Missed Court Date:
If you did not pay your citation beforehand or appear in court, please contact our office to discuss your options. To avoid the possibility of a license suspension and/or a bench warrant, it is imperative that you call us immediately. Please note the following fees:
- Late fee: $75.00
- The late fee will be imposed on all failure to appear cases immediately after court adjourns and will not be waived.
- Warrant fee: $125.00
- When a bench warrant is issued, both the late fee and warrant fee will be imposed and will not be waived.
Court Appointed Attorney (Public Defender):
If you want attorney representation but cannot afford one, you may apply for a court appointed attorney on your assigned court date. When your name is called, please inform the solicitor that you want to apply for an attorney. You will be given an application to complete detailing your income and expenditures. When finished, the judge will review and compare it with the Federal Poverty Guidelines. If you qualify, you will be appointed an attorney. If you do not qualify, you will have the option to move forward with your case that day or request a reset to hire your own attorney.
Points On License/ Reportable Offenses:
Many traffic offenses are reportable to DDS (Department of Driver's Services), which means that if a plea is entered or a fine is paid, the offense will be added to your driving history. Most offenses also have points associated with them. Some, like DUI's, do not have any points but will automatically suspend your license if a plea is entered.
To find out more about points, suspensions, and reportable offenses, refer to the Traffic Court Reference Manual on the Department of Driver's Services website.
Probation Office:
Georgia Probation Management
2195 Pace Street, Suite C
Covington, GA 30014
(770) 788-1388
Website:
gpm-probation.com