How to Search McLennan County Traffic Court Records
Most traffic cases sit in a JP court. The county Justices of the Peace overview lists basic fees, forms, the street guide for evictions, and JP contact phone numbers. There is no single combined case-search portal that covers all five JP precincts, so the best route is to start with the citation number and the precinct printed on the ticket. If you do not have the ticket, call the JP precinct that serves your address.
The JP page is the master landing page for forms, fees, and which precinct hears what kinds of cases.
It shows the JP filing and service fees, the street guide for evictions, and the precinct judge contact list.
| Field | Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citation Number | Text | If known | Printed on the ticket; speeds the lookup. |
| Defendant Name | Text | Yes if no citation | Enter last name first. |
| Court / Precinct | List | Yes | JP 1-1, JP 1-2, JP 2, JP 3, JP 4, or JP 5. |
| Violation Date | Date | No | Helps narrow when the same name has more than one cite. |
| Date of Birth | Date | No | Some courts ask for it on name lookups. |
Which Courts Handle Traffic Cases in McLennan County
Five JP precincts split the county. JP 1-1 and JP 1-2 sit at the downtown courthouse. JP 2 is in north Waco, JP 3 in West, JP 4 in McGregor, and JP 5 in south Waco. Each handles traffic and Class C misdemeanors for the area, plus small claims, evictions, and other limited matters. The county JP 1-2 page notes that traffic-citation warrant inquiries in that office will not result in arrest there.
Each JP page lists the address, phone, and judge. The pages below cover JP 2, JP 1-1, JP 3, JP 4, and JP 1-2 in turn.
JP 2 sits at the Kelly-Napier Justice Center on Elm Avenue. Effective January 1, 2026, JP 2 eviction hearings run hybrid in person and remotely, with public observation via YouTube.
JP 1-1 sits inside the main courthouse on Washington Avenue. Its page notes a software transition that has affected e-filing.
JP 1-1 was unable to accept e-filings for several months starting July 1, 2025 due to the software change. Call ahead before sending anything electronically.
JP 3 covers the West area in northern McLennan County.
JP 3 sits at 201 N Reagan in West, TX 76691, with mailing P.O. Box 495 in West.
JP 4 sits in McGregor in southwestern McLennan County.
JP 4 sits at 415 N Johnson in McGregor, TX 76657, and posts judge contact info on the precinct page.
JP 1-2 sits at the courthouse and handles traffic, Class C, evictions, small claims, and debt cases up to $20,000.
The JP 1-2 page is also the one that gives the public-facing assurance that traffic-warrant inquiries in the office will not lead to arrest there.
- JP 1-1 - 501 Washington Avenue, Suite 104-D, Waco, TX 76701; phone 254-757-5040.
- JP 1-2 - 501 Washington Avenue, Suite 108, Waco, TX 76701; phone 254-757-5128.
- JP 2 - 929 Elm Avenue, Waco, TX 76704; phone 254-752-9353.
- JP 3 - 201 N Reagan, West, TX 76691; phone 254-826-3341.
- JP 4 - 415 N Johnson, McGregor, TX 76657; phone 254-759-7558.
- JP 5 - 1800 Richter Avenue, Waco, TX 76711; phone 254-752-4242.
Types of Traffic Cases on Record
JP courts hear fine-only traffic and Class C misdemeanors. The most common entries are speeding, expired registration, no insurance, and stop-sign or red-light violations. They also see truancy and a few other Class C matters. Larger traffic-related cases, such as DUI or DWI, route to criminal court instead of a JP court. Civil traffic-tied claims, such as small property damage, can also land in JP small claims up to $20,000.
- Speeding and other moving violations.
- Expired registration, expired inspection, and equipment offenses.
- No driver license, no insurance, and proof issues.
- Stop-sign, red-light, and right-of-way violations.
- Class C misdemeanors handled by JP courts.
What McLennan County Traffic Court Records Show
A traffic court record lists the citation, the court that handled it, and how the case ended. It also includes any fine, court costs, and the disposition. The table below sums up the common fields you will see on a JP traffic file.
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Citation Number | The ticket number printed by the officer. |
| Court / Precinct | JP 1-1, 1-2, 2, 3, 4, or 5. |
| Defendant | Name as it appears on the ticket. |
| Offense | Speeding, no insurance, expired registration, and other Class C charges. |
| Violation Date | Date of the stop or offense. |
| Fine / Court Costs | Total amount due after disposition. |
| Disposition | Paid, dismissed, defensive driving, deferred, or judgment. |
| Status | Open, paid in full, in collections, or warrant issued. |
Searching by Citation Number vs by Name
A citation-number search is the fastest path. The ticket itself prints the citation number and the JP precinct. Punch the number into the right JP precinct's case search or call the clerk and the result is one record. A name search is broader and may return more than one entry, since the same name can hold several cites across years and precincts.
Name searches also need a date of birth in some courts, since the system pulls anyone with a near-match. If the citation crossed precincts, you may need to call more than one JP to find it.
Paying or Contesting a McLennan County Traffic Ticket
You have a fixed window from the violation date to either pay, plead, or appear. Each option carries different consequences for the driver record. Pay the fine and the file shows a conviction. Plead nolo contendere or guilty and ask for defensive driving and the court can dismiss the cite if you finish the course. Appear and contest and the matter goes to a trial setting.
- Read the ticket and note the citation number, the JP precinct, and the appearance date.
- Decide between paying, requesting defensive driving or deferred, or contesting.
- Contact the listed JP court before the appearance date to set the option.
- Pay the fine and court costs, or file the request form for defensive driving with proof of insurance and a current driver license.
- If you contest, set a pretrial or trial date and bring witnesses, photos, or other proof.
- After disposition, confirm in writing that the file is paid in full and that no warrant is open.
Public Access Laws for Traffic Court Records
Traffic court records are mostly open. They are court files, so they follow court rules instead of the Texas Public Information Act in most respects. Sheriff and county agency files follow the Texas Public Information Act in Government Code Chapter 552. Driver license and motor-vehicle data are not as open. Texas Government Code section 552.130 protects driver license numbers, vehicle title detail, and registration data, which is why a court traffic record can be public while the driver-license file is redacted.
Note: A court traffic file and a state driver record are separate records; payment of a ticket updates the court file first and the driver record after the court reports the disposition.
Court Traffic Records vs State Driver Records
This is the difference most drivers miss. The JP or municipal court keeps the case file, which is the legal record of the ticket. The Texas Department of Public Safety keeps the driver record, which is the running history of convictions and points on your license. The two files do not match in real time, and they hold different fields. The chart below sets them side by side.
| Feature | Court Traffic Record | State Driver Record |
|---|---|---|
| Source | JP or municipal court file | Texas DPS driver file |
| What is in it | Citation, charge, plea, disposition, costs | Convictions reported, license status, points |
| Where to access | The JP precinct clerk or court | DPS driver record request |
| How to correct errors | Motion in the issuing JP court | Driver record correction request to DPS |
CDL and Commercial Driver Records
Commercial drivers face stricter rules. A commercial driver license cannot use deferred adjudication to keep a moving violation off the record, even when the underlying citation is the same as a passenger driver would receive. Some Class C convictions that would be a small fine for a regular driver can pull a CDL out of service. Always tell the JP court that the driver holds a CDL before pleading.
DUI / DWI Cases
DUI and DWI in Texas are criminal cases, not JP traffic cases. They route to the County Courts at Law for misdemeanor DWI and to a district court for felony DWI. The District Clerk holds felony DWI files; the County Clerk holds misdemeanor DWI files. The Sheriff's mugshot data shows the booking side. For deeper criminal coverage, see McLennan County arrest records.
Deferred Adjudication and Defensive Driving Course
Defensive driving and deferred adjudication can keep a Class C off the record if you finish the program. Defensive driving usually needs proof of insurance and a current license, a small administrative fee, a six-hour state-approved course, and a clean record on the program. Deferred adjudication is a probation-style outcome that, if completed, ends with dismissal. Both options have to be requested before any plea is entered.
Sealing or Expunging Traffic Records
Traffic records can be sealed or expunged in narrow cases. Expunction under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55A applies when a case ends without a conviction or under qualifying outcomes. Nondisclosure under Texas Government Code Chapter 411 limits public access for some completed-deferred cases. Most paid Class C convictions stay public. An attorney can tell you which path, if any, fits a specific case.
Fees for Traffic Record Copies
JP courts charge a basic filing fee and a service fee. Copies are usually $1 per page. The county page tells users to call the JP clerk for specific case fees, since amounts vary by case type and any add-on costs.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| JP filing fee | $54 |
| JP service fee | $90 |
| Plain copy per page | $1 |
| Certified copy per page | $1 plus $5 certification |
Note: Court costs and added state fees can change between cases, so the JP clerk is the right source for the current total before payment.