Magistrate: Ed Bowers

120 Royal Crest Drive

Seville, OH  44273

330.769.4003  M-F  9-5

Dates and Times: Mayor's Court is held on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at 6:00 P.M.

General Court Information:    (Printable Version: Here)

You have been summoned to appear at the Seville Mayor's Court to answer a complaint filed by a police officer in the form of a traffic citation or minor misdemeanor citation.  The following, is additional information that may not have been given to you at the time the citation was issued to you.

 If the officer did not check the box on the front or back of your traffic citation which indicates that you must appear in court, or if you were issued a minor misdemeanor citation, you may do any one of the following:

1.       You may appear at the court at the time specified on the citation.  This appearance is required if you wish to contest the citation, if you wish to enter any plea other than that of "guilty,"  or if you wish to ask the court to allow for special payment arrangements.  Mayor's Court is held on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, at 6:00 PM.  If the date listed on your citation falls on a different day from the second or fourth Tuesday, you should call the court to confirm the date. 

 2.      You may appear at the Seville Police Department within seven days of the date of the citation, and sign a plea of guilty and the waiver of trial provision that is on the back of the citation, and pay the total amount of the fine and costs.  A clerk is available at the Seville Police Department Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. 

 3.      You may sign the guilty plea and waiver of trial provision on the back of the citation and mail it with a certified check or money order made payable to the "Seville Mayor's Court" for the amount of the fine and court costs.  Do not send cash. The amount of the fine and costs can be found on the back of the citation, or can be obtained by calling the court at (330) 769-4003, Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Court costs are required even in the event that you do not appear at the court.  Waivers are considered to be a plea of "guilty," and must be mailed to the court no later than seven days from the date of the citation.   Remittance by mail of the fine and costs to the court stated in the citation constitutes a guilty plea and waiver of trial whether or not the guilty plea and waiver of trial provision are signed. Be sure to include your current address if different than that on the citation, so that a receipt for your payment may be mailed to you.

Certain offenses are not waiverable, and require a court appearance.  These offenses include:  Any felony or indictable offense; offenses resulting in any motor vehicle accident; operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or a drug of abuse; reckless driving; leaving the scene of an accident; driving while under a driver's license suspension or revocation; driving without being licensed to drive; exceeding the speed limit by more than 15 mph; a second moving violation within twelve months; passing a standing school bus; willfully fleeing or eluding a police officer and drag racing or being cited for two or more offenses.

Bond

If you do not live within the jurisdiction of the court, you may be required to post a bond with the court.  The posting of a bond with the court is used to guarantee your appearance in court, and is not a payment of fines or costs.

If you have a current valid Ohio driver's license or commercial driver's license, you may be requested to deposit the license with the officer to serve as security to ensure your appearance at the time and place stated in the citation.  Whether or not you deposit the license with the officer, if you do not appear at the time and place stated on the citation or pay a waiver as provided above, or fail to satisfy any judgment rendered, including, but not limited to, compliance with all court orders, your driver's license will be canceled, and you will not be eligible for the re-issuance of the license or the issuance of a new license for one year after cancellation, and you may be subject to arrest and any other applicable penalties. 

If you pay a waiver to the citation as outlined above, the court will immediately release the driver's license to you.  You may also obtain the driver's license by posting a cash bond with the court.  If your driver's license is accepted as bond, the pink copy of your citation will serve as a valid Ohio driver's license until the date and time you are required to appear.

If you do not have a valid driver's license or commercial driver's license, or if you do not agree to deposit your driver's license with the officer after being notified of the possible consequences listed above, you may be arrested and taken before the court for the setting of a reasonable cash security as determined by the court.  The Seville Mayor's Court does not accept "AAA" cards as bond.

Upon discharge of the citation, or upon the satisfaction of any judgment rendered on the citation, including compliance with all court orders, the court will immediately return any sum of money, license or other security deposited in relation to the citation to you, or to any other person who deposited the security.

If you have been issued a driver's license or commercial driver's license in any state other than Ohio, you may or may not be asked to deposit the license with the officer as bond.  Failure to appear in court at the time and date specified on the citation, or to pay a waiver to the citation as outlined above, may result in the State of Ohio requesting the state in which you are licensed to drive, to suspend your driver's license until judgment in Ohio is satisfied or for one year after the alleged violation.

Court Appearance

The Seville Mayor's Court is located in Seville Municipal Building and meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:00 PM.  Parking is available at the front of the building, and entrance to the court is through the door at the front of the building.

At your court appearance, the Magistrate will advise you of your right to have your case heard by the Magistrate of the Village of Seville and of your right to have your case transferred to the Wadsworth Municipal Court.  In the event that you decide to have your case heard in the Seville Mayor's Court, you will given a waiver form to sign, indicating that you were advised of your right to transfer, and that you elected to remain with the Seville Mayor's Court.

The charge(s) against you will be read, and you will be asked to enter one of three possible pleas to the

complaint(s):

•         A plea of guilty, which is a complete admission of guilt.  Upon a plea of guilty, the Magistrate will dispose of the case pursuant to Ohio law.

•            A plea of no contest is not an admission of guilt, but is an admission to the truth of the facts alleged in the indictment, information, or complaint.  A plea of no contest can not be used against you in any subsequent civil or criminal proceeding.  If the facts on the ticket or complaint sets forth an offense, the Magistrate will find you guilty on a plea of no contest, and will dispose of the case pursuant to Ohio law.

•            A plea of not guilty is a complete denial of guilt.  Upon entering a plea of not guilty, the court will automatically transfer the matter to the Wadsworth Municipal Court, and you will be notified of the date and time to appear for trial.

You should not expect to come to court and to be allowed to explain your side of the story and to have the case dismissed.  The Village also has a right to explain its side of the story, and that will happen at trial.

If you plead guilty to the offense but are unable to pay the fine at the time of your court appearance, the Magistrate may elect to set up a payment plan that is convenient for you and for the court.  If you need additional time to pay a fine, you must appear at the court, and should bring supporting evidence such as a recent pay stub(s).

This notice may not advise you of all of your rights concerning a complaint filed against you.  You should seek informed counsel for further details.

Seville Police: 120 Royal Crest Dr.,  Seville Ohio 44273
Phone:  330-769-4003     Fax: 330-769-1356

Revised 3/06