44th District Court - Royal Oak — Local services in Royal Oak

Visit the court's website and what's at the top of the page? "Make payments online. CLICK HERE." Call their phone tree and what are the first three prompts? Pay, pay, pay! I called to ask for clarification on what statute I had violated and the clerks seemed annoyed and couldn't clarify until I spoke to three different people. They were all able to tell me how much money I need to pay though.

I spoke with several persons familiar with this court (including a local attorney) and the consensus seemed to be that one can get points waived and violations struck from your record, but almost never can one get a fine dismissed.

I felt that Magistrate Chisholm was curt and dismissive of me. He seemed annoyed that I was trying to defend myself against a traffic citation and seemed to hold no sympathy that I am not familiar with the finer points of the laws regarding civil infractions. Furthermore, during his lecture on why I am responsible for the violation, he insinuated that I should be charged with a more serious offense but he and the officer were "doing me a favor" levying a lesser charge that did not actually apply.

So, in short, my experience is that it is difficult to get enough information to adequately defend yourself, they will be annoyed that you are trying to defend yourself, and you will end up paying them no matter what. And during this Kafkaesque experience, they will remind you that they are actually doing you a favor so you should be grateful.

Shame on the city of Royal Oak and shame on Magistrate Chisholm. This sort of behavior is partly responsible for the continuing erosion of faith in the justice system of...

Gary Dodge is horribly rude and dismissive. I emailed the 44th District Court to see how I can submit my parking ticket explanation to the magistrate. I was told I could not. My daughter received a parking ticket in a parking garage and was paying $50 a month for a parking permit. She parked on a lower level because it was evening and she has been harassed in the past by guys loitering. This was 3.14.2019. She was graduating from Aveda Institute that night, where she had been attending since 9.2018. Long story short she received a ticket for $50, tried to pay online and apparently their website had issues, because she received an additional late for for ANOTHER $50. I was told that the lower spots where she was ticketed are used so customers can park closer and patronize businesses and that those businesses pay to have those spots monitored by the parking garage enforcement. What do you call paying $12,500 in tuition plus $50 a month parking for 6 months plus eating out downtown while going to school?? I will never...

Have a parking ticket. Paid for the wrong spot, ultimately my fault, but arguably the new parking system makes things more complicated than need be. Called the office to dispute ticket (as the automated ticket sent to you specifically says to call the number) and left a message (as directed). Called back next day, woman on phone obviously had not bothered to listen to voicemail, (which would make her job easier as it gives her context of the situation) rudely tells me that I need to email the judge and that “this wasn’t the number to call”. Went to Royal Oak’s website regarding parking citations and how to dispute. Nothing. In fact, the only website that gives any information is one not affiliated with Royal Oak at all. Maybe don’t be so rude and unprofessional, literally do your job, and point people in the right direction from the get-go and maybe you wouldn’t hate your life so...