DEARBORN – The 19th District Court here has launched a new online resolution system providing individuals with the opportunity to settle traffic tickets more quickly and efficiently via their smartphone, tablet or computer.

The service provides access to the court system 24/7 for paying any outstanding tickets.

“We recognize that taking time from work, school or other obligations to wait in line at the courthouse can be frustrating,” said Chief Judge Gene Hunt. “The Court’s dedication to (allow) automated enhancements will help the Dearborn Court continue to be effective and efficient in court operations while enabling better public access.”

The new platform is called Matterhorn, which walks individuals through a series of qualifying questions and allows them to submit their position online as if they were speaking in court. A law enforcement officer then reviews their cases. From there, a magistrate determines next steps, including assessing fines that a litigant can pay online. Throughout the process, litigants receive emails and text messages updating them on the status of their cases.

The program allows citizens who receive traffic civil infractions in Dearborn to make payments online and to contest tickets from the convenience of their home or location of their choosing without ever having to appear at the courthouse.

The system was designed by Court Innovations, Inc., an Ann Arbor-based software company that began at the University of Michigan Law School.

Dearborn’s judicial system is taking a big step forward by adopting technology that makes it fast and simple for people to have their voice heard and for justice to be served,” said Court Innovations CEO MJ Cartwright. “Across the board, when courts adopt Matterhorn, the time for a case to be resolved drops dramatically and citizen satisfaction with the courts improves significantly.”

Those who have recently received a civil traffic infraction violation in Dearborn can visit www.courtinnovations.com/MID19 to learn more or to potentially resolve the matter online.