What does Terrell 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
- Terrell Municipal Court — official court page
- Court office
- 201 E. Nash St., Terrell, TX 75160
- In-person payments
- 1100 N. State Highway 34, Terrell, TX 75160 (Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–5 p.m.)
- Phone
- (972) 551-6600 (court) · police non-emergency (972) 551-6622
- Handles
- Class C misdemeanors, traffic citations, and city-ordinance violations (all fine-only)
- Hours
- Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
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 Terrell Municipal Court. Those cases are filed with the Kaufman County courts in Kaufman and follow the county process — booking, magistration, and a setting in a county court at law or district court. Our Kaufman County hub walks through that side step by step.
Terrell city jail (police holding lockup)
Terrell does run its own lockup — but it is short-term only, with no inmate services. Plan on the county jail for anything longer.
- Facility
- Terrell Police Department holding lockup
- Address
- 201 E. Nash St., Terrell, TX 75160 (same complex as the court)
- Police (non-emergency)
- (972) 551-6622
- Maximum hold
- Short-term, roughly 48–72 hours
- Inmate services
- None — no commissary, visitation, mail, or phone services at this facility
The Terrell lockup is built for booking and very short holds, not for serving time or extended detention. Because it has no commissary, visitation, mail, or phone program, families generally cannot visit or send money there. If your person is still at the Terrell PD lockup, call the police non-emergency line at (972) 551-6622 to confirm; for anyone held beyond a day or two, expect a transfer to the county.
How do I pay or handle a Terrell ticket?
Terrell makes online payment easy — but paying a ticket is a guilty plea, so it is not always the right move.
| Option | What it means | Effect on your record |
|---|---|---|
| Pay the fine | Pay online (6.5% card fee), in person at 1100 N. State Highway 34 (cash/check/money order, no fee), or at the City Hall kiosk | 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 |
Watch the deadline printed on your citation. The City of Terrell's Pay Fine page handles online payments, and the Internet Payment Rules page explains what can and cannot be paid online. 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 Terrell — where are they and how do I get them out?
A Terrell arrest may start at the city lockup, but bonding out is a county process. Here's the fast path.
- Check the city lockup firstIf the arrest just happened, the person may still be at the Terrell PD holding facility at 201 E. Nash St. Call the police non-emergency line at (972) 551-6622 to confirm.
- Then check the countyFor any hold beyond booking, run the Kaufman County inmate search at inmates.kaufmanso.com by name or charge. It shows charges, bond amount (once set), and custody status.
- Wait for magistrationA Justice of the Peace magistrate reviews the charges and sets bond — Texas law requires this no later than 48 hours after arrest. In the Terrell area this is typically JP Precinct 3 (Terrell Sub Courthouse, 408 E. College). There is no published bail schedule, so each bond is set individually.
- Post bondBonds are posted around the clock at the county's 24-hour bond window at 1900 E. US-175, Kaufman. See the full bonding-out guide for accepted payment types and bond options (cash, surety, or personal).
Because the county detention facility, the bond window, and the magistrate handle everything past the initial booking, the details of getting someone out are covered on the Kaufman 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 Terrell 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 Terrell — a failure-to-appear, capias, or traffic warrant from an unpaid citation — don't show up at the court counter or the jail blind. Terrell does allow online warrant payment, but per the city it does not prevent a possible arrest until the next business day, so understand how to check for and resolve the warrant first.
Terrell court & jail FAQ
What does Terrell 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 Kaufman County courts in Kaufman, not the city court. The court office is at 201 E. Nash St.; call (972) 551-6600.
How do I pay a Terrell ticket?
Pay online at the city's Pay Fine page (6.5% card fee), in person at 1100 N. State Highway 34 with cash, check, or money order (no fee), or at the City Hall kiosk. Remember that paying is a guilty plea — defensive driving or deferred disposition may keep the offense off your record.
Does Terrell have its own jail?
Yes — the Terrell Police Department runs a short-term holding lockup at 201 E. Nash St. It holds people roughly 48–72 hours with no commissary, visitation, mail, or phone services. For anything longer, detainees go to the Kaufman County Detention Facility at 1900 E. US-175, Kaufman, (972) 932-4337.
Someone was arrested in Terrell — where are they?
They may be at the Terrell PD lockup briefly (call (972) 551-6622), but for any longer hold they are transferred to the Kaufman County Detention Facility, 1900 E. US-175, Kaufman. Use the county inmate search to confirm custody, or call (972) 932-4337. Bond is set at magistration.
What happens if I ignore a Terrell ticket or have a warrant?
The court can issue a warrant, add a failure-to-appear charge, and flag your driver's license renewal. Terrell allows online warrant payment, but per the city it does not stop a possible arrest until the next business day. Call the court at (972) 551-6600 before the deadline — and if a warrant has issued, learn how to check and lift it first.
Have a question this page didn't answer? Browse more DFW jail, bond & court FAQs.
Arrested in Terrell? Talk to L&L Law Group
If you or a loved one is facing a charge that's headed to the Kaufman 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 Kaufman County city pages and the county-wide tools you may need next.