Q. When are criminal cases scheduled?
A. Criminal cases are prosecuted by the District Attorney and are scheduled the 2nd and 3rd Thursday of each month.
Q. When are traffic trials scheduled?
A. Traffic trials, small claim trials and civil trials are scheduled on the 1st and 4th Thursday of each month.
Q. Do I have to appear in Court on the date at the bottom of my ticket?
A. No. Pleas of "guilty" or "not guilty" may be entered by mail. The Court will send further instructions and/or information by return mail.
Q. What is the fine schedule for traffic violations and how can I pay my fine?
A. The fines are set by the Court. The mandatory minimum/maximum fines and mandatory surcharges are set by the NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law. The Court will accept money orders, certified checks, or bank checks.
Q. How many points are given for different speeding violations?
A. The point system is controlled by the Motor Vehicles Bureau. The Court does not assign the points, nor can the Court prevent points being given for moving violations. The Court can provide information about defensive driving courses which may be taken in order to reduce points on an individual's license. More detailed information can be found at the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles website at www.nysdmv.com.
Speed (MPH over limit) No. of Points
1 to 10 3
11 to 20 4
21 to 30 6
31 to 40 8
Over 40 11
Q. Can I get points reduced by taking a defensive driving course?
A. Yes. Some DMV approved agencies offering this class are:
New York Safety Program National Safety Council
8302 Fifth Avenue 200 Salina Meadows Parkway
Brooklyn, NY 11209-4511 Syracuse, NY 13212
(800) 942-6874 (800) 962-3434
More information can be found by contacting the Court Clerk at (845) 855-3516, or by visiting the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles website at www.nysdmv.com.
Q. What happens if I ignore my ticket?
A. If a defendant fails to respond to a traffic summons in person or by mail, and fails to appear for a scheduled trial and/or fails to pay the fine, the Department of Motor Vehicles is notified. The DMV will suspend the driver's license and the driver will be subject to a misdemeanor charge it stopped by police while driving with a suspended license.
Q. My license is suspended and I just want to pay my fine. How much do I owe?
A. When a defendant's license has been suspended for failure to appear or failure to pay a fine, penalty, or mandatory surcharge, the suspension shall remain in effect until the defendant pays to the Court the amount owed along with a termination of suspension fee of $35.00, if applicable.
Q. Can I sue someone who owes me money?
A. Yes. The defendant must reside, have a place of business, or have regular employment within the municipality.
Please note: Small Claims are for money only with a $3,000 limit.
Filing Fees are as follows:
$10.00 for claims under $1,000
$15.00 for claims over $1,000
Q. Are there any helpful hints for dealing with the Court?
A. Please remember the Court's personnel are there to be helpful and cannot render legal advice. The clerks are not responsible for determining the rules and penalties.
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