Craighead County Traffic Court Records
Craighead County traffic court records are official documents generated when a driver is cited for a traffic violation within the county. This page covers how to search those records online, how to contact the district court in Jonesboro, and how to request documents under Arkansas public records law.
Craighead County Traffic Court Records
Search Craighead County Records via CourtConnect
Arkansas Judiciary's CourtConnect portal gives free public access to Craighead County traffic case data. You can search by party name, case type, ticket number, or filing date. No login is needed. Results show the charge, court dates, case status, and any fines or judgments on the record.
CourtConnect covers Craighead County traffic and misdemeanor cases filed from August 2018 onward. Cases from before that date may appear in the older Craighead County District Court online records archive at cdc.cisarkansas.com, which covers filings from September 1994 through July 2018.
That older archive is worth checking if you need historical records or are looking up a case from several years ago. Once you locate the case number in either system, you can contact the clerk's office to get certified copies or more detail on how the case was resolved.
Craighead County District Court Information
The Craighead County District Court handles traffic violations, misdemeanor criminal cases, hot check cases, and small claims. The court operates out of Jonesboro, the county seat and largest city in the region. There are also county offices in Lake City that serve the eastern part of the county.
The Arkansas courts district court directory lists contact details and jurisdiction information for the Craighead County District Court and all other district courts statewide.
The district court in Jonesboro is located at 410 West Washington Avenue, Jonesboro, Arkansas 72401. The phone number is 870-933-4508. If you received a traffic citation in Craighead County, this is the court where your case will be heard unless the ticket specifies otherwise. Court hours are typically weekday business hours, so call ahead if you plan to visit in person.
When you get a citation, check the ticket for the response deadline. If you want to plead not guilty, you must do so within 5 working days of the date shown. Missing that window can limit your options and may result in a default finding against you.
The Craighead County Government website also lists contact information for county offices and may have updated court hours or announcements about closures.
Craighead County Circuit Clerk's Office
The Circuit Clerk maintains official records for the Craighead County Circuit Court, which handles felony criminal cases, civil matters over $5,000, and domestic relations. David Vaughn serves as the Circuit Clerk and Recorder. While traffic violations are mostly handled at the district court level, the Circuit Clerk holds records for more serious driving offenses that rise to felony or circuit court status.
The Circuit Clerk's main office is at 511 South Main Street, Suite 200, Jonesboro, Arkansas 72401. Phone is 870-933-4530. A second location operates at 107 Cobean Boulevard in Lake City for residents in the eastern part of the county. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
In-person record requests require a completed request form, a valid photo ID, and payment of copy fees. Standard copies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies of court records are $5 each. If you need records mailed to you, include a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment when you send your written request.
Additional Online Record Search Tools
A few other platforms index Craighead County court data and can help you locate traffic records more quickly.
Arkansas traffic court record aggregators pull data from public sources and can give you an overview of case information before you request official documents from the court.
CourtCaseFinder at arkansas.courtcasefinder.com is another option that covers Craighead County records. These third-party tools are useful for a first look, but they may lag behind the official court database by days or weeks. Always confirm current case status through CourtConnect or directly with the clerk before relying on the information for any formal purpose.
Traffic violation records in Craighead County are public under Arkansas Code Section 25-19-103. The county participates in the statewide Search ARCourts system, so most records are accessible without having to visit the courthouse.
FOIA Requests for Craighead County Traffic Records
Anyone can request Craighead County traffic court records under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. You do not need to state a reason. The law, found at Arkansas Code Section 25-19-105, requires the court to respond within 3 business days. The response must either provide the records, deny them in writing with a legal explanation, or set a firm date for delivery.
To make a request, send a written letter to the Craighead County District Court clerk. Include the defendant's name, approximate filing date, case number if available, and the specific documents you need. Copy fees are the actual cost to the agency, usually a few cents per page for plain copies. Certified copies are $5 each.
Traffic violation records in Craighead County are kept for 3 years after case disposition. After that, records may be archived or purged. If you need records for an older case, ask the clerk whether the file still exists before paying fees for a records search that may come back empty.
Some data in court files is protected. Juvenile records are sealed. Personal identifiers like Social Security numbers are redacted before release to the public.
Paying Craighead County Traffic Fines
Drivers who want to pay a Craighead County traffic fine without appearing in court can use the Arkansas e-Traffic payment portal at pay.arcourts.gov. Have your ticket number and date of birth ready. Payment closes the case as a guilty plea and the conviction goes on your driving record.
Some Craighead County citations include a "CPw/DS" notation. That means the court may allow you to attend an approved driving school in lieu of, or to reduce, the penalty. Ask the clerk at 870-933-4508 whether your ticket qualifies before you pay online or appear in court.
If the online portal does not list your specific court, you may need to pay by mail or in person at 410 West Washington Avenue in Jonesboro. The clerk can tell you which payment methods are accepted and whether a money order is required for mail payments.
Nearby Counties
Craighead County borders several other northeast Arkansas counties. If a traffic incident happened near a county line, the case might be filed in a neighboring court. Check CourtConnect by name to see where the case was filed.
Jonesboro is the largest city in Craighead County and one of the larger cities in northeast Arkansas. Residents there can find traffic court records through the same CourtConnect system and district court clerk contacts listed above. See the Jonesboro city page for more detail on local resources.