What does McKinney 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
- McKinney Municipal Court — official court page
- Address
- 401 E. Virginia St., McKinney, TX 75069
- Phone
- (972) 547-7500
- Handles
- Class C misdemeanors, traffic citations, and city-ordinance violations (all fine-only)
- Online payment
- municipalonlinepayments.com/mckinneytx
- Pay & close a case
- Pay and Close Your Case
- Hours
- ⚠ Not published online — call (972) 547-7500 to confirm current hours 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 McKinney Municipal Court. Those cases are filed with the Collin County courts in McKinney and follow the county process — booking, magistration, and a setting in a county court at law or district court. Our Collin County hub walks through that side step by step.
Does McKinney 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
- Collin County Detention Facility
- Address
- 4300 Community Ave., McKinney, TX 75071
- Detention Bureau
- (972) 547-5200, 24 hours
- Confirm custody
- Collin County inmate search
Because the county jail is itself located in McKinney, people often say someone is "in the McKinney jail" when they mean the Collin County Detention Facility. If a city marshal or McKinney officer made a custodial arrest, the person is generally transported to that county facility for booking. 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 McKinney 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 online, by phone, or in person; or use Pay and Close Your Case if eligible | 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 McKinney's online payment portal lets you pay or look up many citations, and the Pay and Close Your Case tool resolves eligible cases in one step. 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 McKinney — 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 Collin County inmate search by name or date of birth. 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 (972) 547-5200, available 24 hours.
- Wait for magistrationA magistrate reviews the charges and sets the bond — McKinney references no published 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 window at 4300 Community Ave., McKinney. See the full bonding-out guide for accepted payment types and bond options (cash, surety, or personal).
Because the detention facility, the bond window, and the magistrate are all part of the county system, everything about getting someone out is covered on the Collin 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 McKinney 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 McKinney — 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.
McKinney court & jail FAQ
What does McKinney 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 Collin County courts in McKinney, not the city court. The court is at 401 E. Virginia St.; call (972) 547-7500.
How do I pay a McKinney ticket?
Pay online at municipalonlinepayments.com/mckinneytx, use the city's Pay and Close Your Case tool for eligible cases, or pay by phone or in person at 401 E. Virginia St. Remember that paying is a guilty plea — defensive driving or deferred disposition may keep the offense off your record.
Does McKinney have its own jail?
⚠ Unconfirmed. McKinney has a Marshal's Office, but we could not verify a standalone city jail. Custodial arrests generally go to the Collin County Detention Facility at 4300 Community Ave., McKinney, (972) 547-5200. Confirm where someone is held with the county inmate search.
Someone was arrested in McKinney — where are they?
Most likely the Collin County Detention Facility, 4300 Community Ave., McKinney. Use the Collin County inmate search to confirm custody and charges, or call the Detention Bureau at (972) 547-5200. Bond is set at magistration; there is no published bail schedule.
What happens if I ignore a McKinney ticket?
The court can issue a warrant, add a failure-to-appear charge, and flag your driver's license renewal. Call the Municipal Court at (972) 547-7500 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 McKinney? Talk to L&L Law Group
If you or a loved one is facing a charge that's headed to the Collin 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 Collin County city pages and the county-wide tools you may need next.