In order to better serve the public, streamline processing, and reduce costs, Colorado Springs Municipal Court has established the use of Referees to expedite certain types of issues and deal with exceptions that may be resolved without a formal court hearing. Municipal Court Referees are appointed by the Presiding Judge to hear about a variety of different issues in an informal environment. While the standard burden of proof remains beyond a reasonable doubt, hearings generally occur without attorneys and the rules of evidence are not rigidly enforced.
Contacting a Referee
Address: 224 E. Kiowa Street, Room 107, Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Email: municipal.courtreferee@coloradosprings.gov
Phone Number: 719-385-6161
Fax Number: 719-385-6437
Normal business hours are Monday through Friday:
- 9:00 AM to Noon
- 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Parking Tickets
If you have received a parking ticket and simply want to explain the circumstances, you may walk in and see a Referee during normal business hours. In the interest of justice, Referees have the authority to reduce or modify a parking fine when the circumstances are compelling.
Compulsory Insurance
If you were ticketed for driving without auto insurance, you may also walk-in before the scheduled court date and see a Referee to show that you had valid proof of insurance for the vehicle in question at the time the ticket was written. The best proof is a certificate of insurance issued by an insurance agency.
The Referee will also ask to see the summons and vehicle registration. The Referee has the authority to dismiss cases if they are satisfied with the sufficiency of the proof of insurance presented. If in doubt, Referees often place calls to insurance agencies to verify the accuracy of the documents presented. A Referee can only handle valid proof of insurance before the court appearance date set on the ticket; otherwise, an appearance in court is required.
If the ticket was issued with another charge, such as speeding, the Referee may not resolve the second charge. They will, however, explain what options are available.
Vehicle Registration Violations
If you were ticketed with a vehicle registration violation, you may walk-in before the scheduled court date and see a Referee to present proof of proper registration. The Referee will ask to see the summons and vehicle registration. The Referee has the authority to dismiss charges if they are satisfied with the proof of correction of the violation.
If the ticket was issued with other charges, such as speeding, the registration charge may be dismissed, however, the Referee will inform you of the options available to resolve the other charge(s).
Minor Animal Violations
If you have been charged with failure to inoculate or license your animal and can provide proof that you have complied with either of the charges, the Referee has the authority to dismiss these charges.
Minor Equipment Violations
If you have been charged with a minor equipment violation (cracked windshield, obscured license plate or vehicle lighting) and can provide proof that you have complied with either of the charges, the Referee has the authority to dismiss these charges.
Formal Hearings
In some types of cases, charges that can be heard by a Referee are scheduled for a formal hearing at specific times. These charges include:
- Code Enforcement matters
- Citations on vehicles that the City has towed from the roadways
Witnesses can testify at hearings and may be placed under subpoena to attend the hearings. Such hearings are held in Division R, Room 340, or the Referee Office in Room 107 in the Municipal Court Building. To compel someone to testify as a witness, you may download and complete the Subpoena Request form and provide to the Violations Bureau in person in room 108, fax to (719)385-6190 or email to MunicipalCourtViolations@ColoradoSprings.Gov
Appeals
Appeals from the Referees are heard by a Municipal Judge with the case and all testimony being repeated from the very beginning (called de novo). Appeals must be filed in writing in the Violations Bureau within ten days of the Referee hearing.
Vehicle tow hearings are not appealable. Rather, the Referee's action is limited to determining if the police officer had probable cause to have the vehicle towed. The City cannot take away property without due process of law. Probable cause exists if it appeared to the police officer that a valid city ordinance had been violated. The Referee has the authority to order a refund of towing and impound expenses if probable cause is not found. Such hearings are prohibited by ordinance if the City impounded a vehicle for the purposes of using it as evidence (called evidentiary).