Oklahoma City Municipal Court vs. Oklahoma County District Court

If you’ve been arrested for a DUI in Oklahoma City, you might think you know where you’ll have to go to court. But you could be left in limbo as the state determines where your case will be heard. Let’s talk about the pros and cons of municipal vs. district court in Oklahoma, including where your case is likely to go and how it affects your case.

What Is Oklahoma City Municipal Court?

Oklahoma City Municipal Court handles cases involving city ordinances and crimes within city limits, including traffic violations and some misdemeanor criminal offenses. Examples include speeding tickets, parking violations, DUIs, public intoxication, and trespassing. You might also need to visit Oklahoma City court to resolve warrants and make payments for fines.

One important note about the Oklahoma City Municipal Court is that it is considered a “court of record,” which means that a DUI conviction in this court will trigger the lookback period. In Oklahoma, the “lookback period” is the ten-year period during which your previous DUI convictions count against you during sentencing. The only other Municipal Court that is a court of record is Tulsa.

What Is District Court?

District courts in Oklahoma are the state's general trial courts. They handle a broad range of cases, including felony criminal charges, divorce, child custody, large civil disputes, and probate issues. Oklahoma has 77 district courts, one for each county. Each court may have one or more judges depending on the size of the county.

While the municipal court focuses on city ordinance violations and minor offenses, the district court has a broader jurisdiction and authority. All district courts are courts of record, so DUI convictions here will also trigger the lookback period.

Municipal vs. District Court: Where Will Your Case Be Heard?

In Oklahoma, where a DUI case is heard depends on the severity of the offense and who makes the arrest. If you get pulled over by an officer of the Oklahoma City Police Department (OCPD), they can send the case to either the municipal court or the district court. If it’s a first-time DUI without any aggravating factors, they’ll probably send it to municipal court. However, the city prosecutor can still “decline” the case and send it up to district court.

If you had a very high BAC, resisted arrest, caused property damage or injury, or had other aggravating factors, your case will probably be sent to district court. And if your case involves any of the following, the state requires it to be heard in district court:

• Your DUI occurred outside city limits
• You were arrested by an Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper
• You have multiple DUIs within the past 10 years

How the Type of Court Affects Your Case

The main reason you’re probably thinking about municipal vs. district court is because you want to know how it might affect the outcome of your case. The answer is that municipal court is generally better, because it means that your case doesn’t have aggravating factors.

Oklahoma City Municipal Court and other city courts may be more lenient, especially for first-time DUIs. The city prosecutors in these courts are often more willing to negotiate deferred or suspended sentences and allow offenders to avoid jail. Fines and court costs in municipal courts are also usually lower, and your case might move more quickly.

District courts handle more serious DUI cases and tend to impose stricter penalties. District Attorneys are less likely to negotiate plea deals, especially for repeat offenders or cases involving aggravating factors like accidents or high BAC. If you do get probation, it will probably still be longer than it would be in municipal court.

You’ll also have to pay higher fines and court costs in district court. For example, you’ll have to pay a Victim Compensation Assessment (VCA) fee of up to $10,000 in district court, but this fee isn’t assessed in municipal court.

Fight Your Oklahoma City DUI in Any Court

The debate between municipal vs. district court hides one simple fact: All DUI charges are serious, no matter where they’re heard. Your DUI attorney should be familiar with both Oklahoma City Municipal Court and Oklahoma County District Court so they can help you navigate the process and move your case along as quickly as possible.

At the Oklahoma DUI Guy, we understand how to get the best outcome for your case, from municipal court to district court. Contact us today for a free case evaluation to see how we can help you.