JURISDICTION, POWER AND FINES.
Dallas City Charter ch. VIII, § 2
in effectSEC. 2. JURISDICTION, POWER AND FINES.
The municipal court shall have jurisdiction:
(1) over all criminal cases arising under the ordinances of the city within the city limits and outside the limits to the extent authorized by state law;
(2) concurrent with the appropriate state court of all criminal cases arising under the criminal laws of the state, where the offense is committed within the city limits of Dallas and the penalty does not exceed that which is established for municipal courts by state law;
(3) over the forfeiture and collection of bonds given in proceedings therein, and to order the forfeiture of cash acceptance bonds upon failure of the defendant to appear, and to accept same in lieu of a fine;
(4) over cases involving a license or permit granted by the city for any calling, occupation, business or vocation. In addition to the punishment to be imposed therefor, the court may suspend or revoke the license or permit so granted;
(5) enforce all process of the courts in accordance with state law and city ordinances, punish witnesses for failing to obey subpoenas, and compel their attendance by process of attachment;
(6) punish for contempt, admit to bail, and forfeit bonds under such circumstances and as provided by county courts, or county courts exercising criminal jurisdiction only;
(7) over all other matters and cases provided for by state law or city ordinance. (Amend. of 6-12-73, Prop. No. 16)
Source: City of Dallas, Dallas City Code and City Charter (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/dallas/latest/dallas_tx/0-0-0-50225Fetched: 10/26/2026