<P> Municipal courts in Texas come into contact with more defendants than all other Texas courts combined . The subject matter of municipal courts relates to crimes relating to public safety and quality of life issues . In recent years, municipal courts and justice court in Texas have become the primary venue for acts of misconduct committed by children . </P> <P> Within the city limits, these courts have shared jurisdiction with the JP courts on Class C criminal misdemeanor cases, and have exclusive jurisdiction on cases involving city ordinances . Municipal courts have limited civil jurisdiction over public matters relating to public safety (e.g., dangerous dog determinations). Confusion surrounding a municipal court's civil jurisdiction is complicated that if a municipal court is a "court of record," the Legislature has authorized municipalities to adopt ordinances that give municipal courts concurrent jurisdiction over substandard building cases with county and / or district courts . The matter of civil jurisdiction has been further confused by the advent of civil penalties for conduct that can be prosecuted as a Class C misdemeanor (e.g. certain parking violations, red light camera violations). </P> <P> As a general rule, the municipal courts are not "courts of record" (i.e., no court reporter recorded and transcribed the proceedings), and thus an appeal to the county level would require a whole new trial (i.e., a trial de novo). This proved to be a loophole for some defendants in traffic cases, who betted on the officer not being able to attend, and thus having the case dismissed . Furthermore, the de novo trials crowded the dockets of already busy county courts at law . Many major cities--such as those in Austin, El Paso, Houston, Dallas and San Antonio--have chosen to convert their municipal courts to courts of record (this also requires voter approval) to close this loophole . </P> <P> Municipal court cases are generally appealed to the county court level, but cannot be appealed beyond that level unless the fine is more than $100 or a constitutional matter is asserted . </P>

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