Criminal & Traffic Courts

The Criminal and Traffic Division handles all traffic and parking tickets within Chisago County, as well as all criminal charges brought by the County Attorney. This includes:

  • Felonies
  • Gross Misdemeanors
  • Misdemeanors
  • Petty Misdemeanors

Paying Your Fine

You can pay your fine by mail, over the telephone, online, or in person. Visit the Paying Your Fees page for more information. Please call 1-800-657-3611 or 651-281-3219 (metro) for fine payment information.

Ticket Information

You have just been issued a ticket in Chisago County. This ticket is the document charging you with a Petty Misdemeanor or a Misdemeanor.

Petty Misdemeanor

The maximum fine for a Petty Misdemeanor is $300. A Petty Misdemeanor is not a crime and therefore carries no jail time. You may be represented by an attorney hired at your own expense. If you wish to plead not guilty, you are entitled to a court trial. A court trial is a trial by a judge without a jury. Your trial will not be held the same day as your first appearance.

Misdemeanor

A Misdemeanor is a crime and consequently a more serious offense. The maximum penalty is $1000 and / or 90 days in jail. If you cannot afford an attorney to represent you, you may apply for the services of a public defender. However, you will need to provide financial information to determine if you are eligible for such an appointment.

You also have the right to a written statement of the charges against you. A written statement is a formal complaint sworn to before a judge containing the facts of the charges. If you wish to plead not guilty, you are entitled to a jury trial. A jury trial would consist of 6 persons, and all 6 persons would have to agree that you are guilty before you could be convicted and sentenced.

Payable Fines

Many fines are payable without the need for a court appearance. You may be able to determine your fine amount by reading the following schedule of fines and fees, or the officer may have quoted a fine amount. This is only a partial listing of payable offenses. Please wait at least 10 days after your ticket is received before calling to receive a fine amount. This will allow time for the officer to submit the ticket for filing.

Note: Court Administration or Minnesota State Payment Center staff cannot quote fine amounts on tickets that have not yet been filed.