Traffic Tickets
To resolve a traffic ticket infraction in the local court, review your ticket to determine if it is a “misdemeanor” or “traffic infraction.” You can locate this by looking at the ticket approximately 2/3 down on the right hand side. If the misdemeanor box is checked, you must appear in Court to be arraigned by the Judge.
If the traffic infraction box is checked, you have the following options: You can plead guilty or not guilty. If your plea is guilty, complete the guilty section and either mail it to the Court or bring it to the Court. Be sure to include your current mailing address. You will then be notified by the Court about the amount of the fine due. You must contact the Court within 60 days of the issuance of the ticket in order to avoid a suspension on your driver’s license. You also will be subject to license suspension for failure to pay a fine set by the Judge after a guilty plea or finding of guilt at trial. If you receive a letter about license suspension, call the Court immediately to address the issue before additional lift suspension fees will be imposed by the Department of Motor Vehicles.
If your plea is not guilty, complete the not guilty section and mail it to the clerk’s office by the return date on the ticket. Again, be sure to include your current mailing address. A letter will be mailed to you indicating a specific date and time to appear. The Officer that issued the ticket also prosecutes the case except for tickets issued by New York State Police which are prosecuted by the Town Attorney.
If you have lost your ticket, you can plead guilty or not guilty using this form.
It is your responsibility to give the court your new address if you move.