The 3B District Court has jurisdiction of all misdemeanors committed in St. Joseph County by anyone 17 years old or older. This includes all cities, townships and villages within St. Joseph County. Cases handled in this division include major traffic and misdemeanor offenses, liquor, conservation, watercraft, and animal violations. Most of these violations require a personal appearance before a Judge or Magistrate.
The 3B District Court has jurisdiction to conduct an arraignment and a preliminary examination over all felonies committed in St. Joseph County by anyone 17 years old or older. A preliminary examination is held to establish probable cause that a felony was committed and probable cause to believe that the defendant committed the felony.
The Day Reporting Center is a branch of the Twin County Community Probation Center located in Three Rivers, Michigan. This center works in conjunction with the local courts as a testing facility for alcohol and illegal drug use for offenders who have been placed on probation with the courts, or for those persons recently posting bail on certain types of criminal cases where testing has been ordered as part of the conditional release.
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Release on personal recognizance or cash bail must be determined for all persons charged with misdemeanors. In some cases the law enforcement agency may set an interim bail. If this interim bail is posted, then the individual will be given a court date and time that they must next appear before the court. When bail is established by the court, the defendant’s next court dates and times for those appearances will be given to the defendant.
Release on personal recognizance, money bail or no release on bail for persons charged with a felony will be determined by the court based on a multitude of factors the court must consider in each case.
The bail may contain conditions that apply to the bail being set by the court. Such conditions may include any of the following or any other conditions the court feels appropriate for the safe release of the defendant and society also. This is not an all inclusive list that the court may impose.
If the court orders a bond with conditions that are determined to be reasonably necessary for the protection of any named person(s), the order shall be entered into the LEIN system.
Should the court order testing for alcohol or illicit controlled substances the defendant may be ordered to appear at the Day Reporting Center which is located at 210 S. Main Street in Three Rivers, Michigan. Failure to report as ordered may result in a bench warrant for the defendant. Failing the testing itself may carry sanctions such as mandatory incarceration for a predetermined amount of time back at the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department, or the court may order a hearing for violation of the bond conditions before one of the District Judges. These conditional releases will be addressed with each defendant during the bail /bond setting process and or arraignments by the court.
The State of Michigan now requires that drivers convicted of certain moving violations pay to the Department of Treasury a special fee assessed by the Secretary of State.
The fees are over and above any fines, costs or fees charged by the Court.
The fees, called “Driver Responsibility Fees”, must be paid each year for two consecutive years. If the fees are not paid within 60 days after notice is given, the Secretary of State will suspend the driver’s license. A reinstatement fee of $125 would be required after such a suspension.
SOME EXAMPLES OF VIOLATIONS COVERED BY THIS LAW ARE: (For a complete listing go to www.michigan.gov/driverresponsibility)
Driving While Suspended
$500 for 2 years
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Reckless Driving
$500 for 2 years
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Operate While Intoxicated
$1000 for 2 years
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Operate While Impaired
$500 for 2 years
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Operate with Presence of Drugs
$500 for 2 years
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Fail to Stop After Personal Injury Accident
$1000 for 2 years
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Fail to Stop After Property Damage Acc.
$1000 for 2 years
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Under 21 Yrs. Old Operate with Alcohol
$500 for 2 years
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Operate Under Influence of Drugs
$1000 for 2 years
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