What does Bedford Municipal Court handle?
The city court is limited to fine-only cases. Anything carrying possible jail time is filed with the county, not the city.
- Court
- Bedford Municipal Court — official court page
- Address
- 2000 Forest Ridge Drive, Bedford, TX 76021
- Phone
- 817-952-2100
- Handles
- Class C misdemeanors, traffic citations, and city-ordinance violations (all fine-only)
- Online payment
- Bedford online payment (OpenGov)
- Hours
- ⚠ Court hours are not published online — call 817-952-2100 to confirm before you go.
A Class C misdemeanor is the lowest level of criminal charge in Texas. It is punishable by a fine only (generally up to $500, plus court costs) with no jail sentence, which is why these cases stay in the city's municipal court. Common examples are speeding and most traffic violations, public-intoxication-type citations, and violations of local ordinances such as parking, code, or animal rules.
If a charge is a Class B or Class A misdemeanor (for example, most DWI, possession, or assault cases) or a felony, it is not handled by Bedford Municipal Court. Those cases are filed with the Tarrant County courts at the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center in Fort Worth and follow the county process — booking, magistration, and a setting in a county criminal court at law or a criminal district court. Bedford is entirely within Tarrant County (one of the “HEB” mid-cities with Hurst and Euless). Our Tarrant County hub walks through that side step by step.
Does Bedford have its own jail?
This is the most common point of confusion. The short version: plan on the county jail, not a city jail.
- Likely facility
- Tarrant County Corrections Center
- Address
- 100 N. Lamar, Fort Worth, TX 76196
- Detention Bureau
- (817) 884-3000, 24 hours
- Confirm custody
- Tarrant County inmate search
Bedford police may briefly hold an arrestee while processing, but people facing charges above a fine-only offense are generally transported to the county facility. To confirm exactly where someone is held — and their charges and any bond — use the county tools: inmate search and jail & booking details.
How do I pay or handle a Bedford ticket?
You usually have more options than just paying. Paying a ticket is a guilty plea — sometimes the wrong move.
| Option | What it means | Effect on your record |
|---|---|---|
| Pay the fine | Pay or look up the citation online, by phone, or in person | Counts as a guilty/no-contest plea — the conviction goes on your record |
| Defensive driving | Ask the court to take a state-approved driving course (eligibility rules apply) | Can keep one qualifying traffic offense off your record |
| Deferred disposition | Probation-style period set by the court; complete the terms and the case is dismissed | Dismissal if you finish the terms — keeps the conviction off your record |
| Appear / contest | Request a court date and plead not guilty to a judge or jury | Depends on the outcome of the case |
Whichever path you choose, watch the deadline printed on your citation. The City of Bedford’s online payment option lets you pay or look up many citations. If you are not sure whether to pay or fight a ticket — especially a no-insurance, invalid-license, or CDL-affecting citation — it is worth a quick call to a lawyer first, because the cheapest option today is not always the cheapest for your record or insurance.
Someone was arrested in Bedford — where are they and how do I get them out?
For a custodial arrest, this is a county process. Here's the fast path to find them and post bond.
- Find themRun the Tarrant County inmate search by name. It shows charges, bond amount (once set), and whether the person is still in custody. If a booking is very recent, give it a few hours to appear.
- Confirm by phone if neededIf the online lookup is down or the person isn't showing yet, call the Detention Bureau at (817) 884-3000, available 24 hours.
- Wait for magistrationA magistrate at Central Magistration reviews the charges and sets the bond — Tarrant County publishes no fixed countywide bail schedule, so each bond is set individually. The amount appears in the inmate search once it's set.
- Post bondBonds are posted around the clock at the county's 24-hour Bond Desk at 100 N. Lamar, Fort Worth, TX 76196. See the full bonding-out guide for accepted payment types and bond options (cash, surety, or personal).
Because the detention facility, the Bond Desk, and the magistrate are all part of the county system, everything about getting someone out is covered on the Tarrant County hub rather than here. That page has the inmate search, money-on-the-books, visitation, and bond details in one place.
Worried about a Bedford warrant?
A missed ticket deadline or unpaid fine can turn into a warrant — but you have options before you walk into a court.
If you think you may have an active warrant out of Bedford — a failure-to-appear, capias, or traffic warrant from an unpaid citation — don't show up at the court counter or the jail blind. Understand how to check for and resolve it first.
Bedford court & jail FAQ
What does Bedford Municipal Court handle?
Only Class C misdemeanors, traffic citations, and city-ordinance violations — all fine-only, with no jail time. Class A/B misdemeanors and felonies are filed with the Tarrant County courts at the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center in Fort Worth, not the city court. The court is at 2000 Forest Ridge Drive; call 817-952-2100.
How do I pay a Bedford ticket?
Pay or look up the citation online at Bedford online payment (OpenGov), or pay by phone or in person at the Municipal Court. Remember that paying is a guilty plea — defensive driving or deferred disposition may keep the offense off your record.
Does Bedford have its own jail?
⚠ The municipal court is fine-only and holds no one, and we could not confirm a standalone overnight city jail. Custodial arrests are generally taken to the Tarrant County Corrections Center at 100 N. Lamar, Fort Worth, TX 76196, (817) 884-3000. Confirm where someone is held with the Tarrant County inmate search.
Someone was arrested in Bedford — where are they?
Most likely the Tarrant County Corrections Center, 100 N. Lamar, Fort Worth, TX 76196. Use the Tarrant County inmate search to confirm custody and charges, or call the Detention Bureau at (817) 884-3000. Bond is set at magistration; there is no published countywide bail schedule.
What happens if I ignore a Bedford ticket?
The court can issue a warrant, add a failure-to-appear charge, and flag your driver's license renewal. Call the Municipal Court before the deadline to ask about a payment plan or alternatives — and if a warrant has already issued, learn how to check and lift it before going in.
Have a question this page didn't answer? Browse more DFW jail, bond & court FAQs.
Arrested in Bedford? Talk to L&L Law Group
If you or a loved one is facing a charge that's headed to the Tarrant County courts, L&L Law Group can review the case — free and confidential. (Fine-only tickets are usually handled directly with the municipal court above.)
Nearby & related pages
Other Tarrant County city pages and the county-wide tools you may need next.