LAWTON, OK —At the July 8, 2025, Lawton City Council meeting, discussions around municipal court fines and fees took center stage, along with the prospect of Lawton becoming a court of record — a status currently held by only two municipal courts in Oklahoma.
Councilman Randy Warren addressed the challenge of rising training costs for the Police and Fire Departments, funded through a $10 fee added to municipal court fines. Because of a legal cap on fines, Lawton cannot raise this fee directly. Instead, the council debated whether the city should handle this through the annual budget or explore becoming a court of record, which could offer more flexibility.
You can watch Councilman Warren’s detailed remarks here: Lawton City Council Meeting – July 8, 2025 (starting around 51:00 minutes).
What Is a Court of Record? Why Does It Matter?
Currently, Lawton operates a municipal court without court of record status. This means:
- The court does not keep official verbatim transcripts of proceedings, only docket summaries.
- Appeals from this court typically require a trial de novo (a completely new trial) in the district court.
- The court has limited authority to adjust fines and fees due to statutory caps.
- Administrative overhead and costs are relatively low.
If Lawton becomes a court of record, the city will:
- Maintain official transcripts of court proceedings.
- Have a limited appellate process where appeals go to the district court based on the existing record, avoiding full retrials.
- Gain more discretion to adjust fines and fees within state law limits.
- Increase administrative responsibilities and potentially operational costs.
Currently, only two municipal courts in Oklahoma — Oklahoma City and Tulsa — hold court of record status. If Lawton pursues this, it would become the third.
Comparing Municipal Court Fines: Lawton vs. OKC
| Infraction | Lawton Fine (Approx.) | Oklahoma City Fine (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Speeding (10-14 mph over limit) | $141 | $189 |
| Speeding (15-19 mph over limit) | $187 | $235 |
| Parking Violation | $25 | $40 |
| Running a Stop Sign | $126 | $175 |
| Failure to Yield | $115 | $165 |
| Seat Belt Violation | $25 | $40 |
| Training Fund Fee (per citation) | $10 | $20 |
Note: Figures derived from publicly available fine schedules as of July 2025.
Open Access to Source Documents
For those interested in reviewing the official documents and fee schedules referenced in the discussion, here are the links:
- Lawton Municipal Court Fine and Fee Schedule (PDF) Lawton Fine Cost Fee Schedule July 1, 2022
- Lawton Municipal Court Online Fine and Bond Schedule Lawton Municipal Court Resources
- Oklahoma City Municipal Court Fines and Fees Oklahoma City Municipal Court
What This Means for Lawton Residents
The city’s decision on whether to pursue court of record status could have several impacts on how municipal court cases are handled, including:
- Changes to the appeals process, possibly making appeals more streamlined but less flexible.
- Potential adjustments in fine structures, possibly leading to different costs for common infractions.
- Increased administrative complexity in the court system.
The City Council will continue to evaluate options in future meetings, balancing cost, court efficiency, and public transparency.
For full context and transparency, residents can watch the July 8, 2025, Lawton City Council meeting on the city’s official YouTube channel:
Lawton City Council Meeting – July 8, 2025