Download Article
Easily track down your next court date with this thorough guide
Download Article
Whether you have a court case in New York City, or want to attend someone else's hearing or other court appearance, you can find your court date online without having to go to the courthouse in person. The method for finding a court date in New York City does differ slightly, however, depending on the type of case and the court where it will be heard.
Steps
-
Read your ticket. If you're issued a traffic ticket for a moving violation in one of the five boroughs of New York City, it includes instructions on how to get a court date. [1] X Research source
- In New York City, criminal moving violations such as driving while intoxicated are handled by criminal courts. All other moving violations are heard by Administrative Law Judges who work for the DMV's Traffic Violations Bureau. [2] X Research source
- The ALJ is an attorney with particular expertise in New York City traffic law, and has the authority to set fines or suspend your license if you are found guilty. Although the hearing may be somewhat less formal than a full traffic court hearing in other parts of the state, you still may present witnesses and evidence and may be represented by an attorney. [3] X Research source
- The TVB doesn't handle parking tickets. If you have a parking ticket, you must request a hearing within 30 days of the date your ticket was issued if you want to dispute it. [4] X Research source You can request a hearing by mail, online, or in person at a New York City Finance Business Center. [5] X Research source
-
Respond to your ticket. You must plead not guilty within 15 days of the violation date to get a hearing date. [6] X Research source
- If you don't answer your traffic ticket by the deadline, your license will be automatically suspended. You can remove the suspension by answering the ticket and paying an additional $70 fee to terminate the suspension. [7] X Research source
- You can respond to most tickets online at https://transact2.dmv.ny.gov/pleadnpay/ . If you plan to plead not guilty, you can use the online service to schedule your hearing. [8] X Research source
- To reply by mail, check the "not guilty" box on your ticket and include the information requested on the ticket. Then sign your ticket and mail it to Traffic Violations Plea Unit, P.O. Box 2950-ESP, Albany, NY 12220--0950. [9] X Research source [10] X Research source
- If you need an interpreter or are hard of hearing, you should indicate this on your ticket when you mail it to Albany. The DMV will provide an interpreter for your hearing free of charge. [11] X Research source
- You also can respond to your ticket in person by visiting the nearest TVB office and schedule a hearing. If you decide to answer in person, make sure you bring your driver's license as proof of identity. [12] X Research source
- The DMV has a list of TVB office locations at http://dmv.ny.gov/tickets/find-tvb-office-locations .
Advertisement -
Receive a letter from the DMV. If you respond to your ticket by mail, the DMV will send you notification of where and when your hearing is scheduled. [13] X Research source
- If the date of the hearing isn't convenient for you, make sure you contact the TVB as soon as possible to have it rescheduled, particularly if you are mailing your rescheduling request. [14] X Research source
-
Contact the TVB. Any TVB office in NYC can provide information or answer any questions you might have about your hearing. [15] X Research source
- If you lose your letter and don't know the date of your hearing, you can visit any TVB office in New York City or call (718) 448-5710 to find out your hearing date. [16] X Research source
- Follow the same procedure if you need to reschedule or postpone your hearing. However, keep in mind that if you need to reschedule your hearing, you must do so at least one day before your hearing is scheduled. [17] X Research source
- You also may request a new hearing date by writing to the Albany, NY address on your ticket and making your request. Mailed requests must be received at least 10 days before your scheduled hearing date. [18] X Research source
- Since hearings are open to the public, you might want to consider watching a few hearings before yours is scheduled so you know what to expect. [19] X Research source
Advertisement
-
Select your search option. You have the ability to search by the case or summons number, or by the defendant's name. [24] X Research source
- If you know the court part or judge's name, you also can pull up the court calendar and view all hearings scheduled for that judge or in that court. [25] X Research source
-
Complete your search. Including additional information, if you know it, can narrow your search results and help ensure you find the court date you need.
- The WebCrims service will produce results that match the terms of your search. In some cases, such as if you've entered a common last name, you may get multiple results. You can improve your search by entering additional information and by making sure that the information you enter is identical to the information on the summons.
- Although you may be able to find a court date using the WebCrims website, you always should contact the clerk's office of the court where the case is being heard to verify the information. [26] X Research source
- Each day's court calendar is posted in the courthouse lobby, and lists criminal defendants either by docket number or by name, so you also can check the calendar in the lobby to confirm the time of your hearing or find out the courtroom in which it will be held. [27] X Research source
Advertisement
-
Check your notice or summons. If you have a summons or notice of motion, the hearing date will be listed on that form. [28] X Research source
- If you are filing a motion, you must choose the date the motion will be heard by the court. You can pick most any court date that is convenient for you, but it must be far enough out to give the other side at least eight days notice. [29] X Research source
- Your notice also will contain the full address of the courthouse where the hearing will be held. [30] X Research source
-
Go to the WebCivil Supreme website. The New York State Unified Court System has an online system that provides access to court calendars and information for all New York courts including those in the five boroughs of New York City. [31] X Research source
- If you've misplaced your notice or summons, you can look up the court date using the WebCivil website.
- You can view calendars for each court, or look up specific cases using your case number, the name of the plaintiff or defendant, or the name of an attorney or law firm. [32] X Research source
- You must read through the terms of use and verify that you are an individual person and not an automated program before you can access the system. However, there is no fee and you don't have to register for an account to conduct a search. [33] X Research source
-
Choose the search option you need. WebCivil Supreme allows you to search for cases using several different criteria, or retrieve calendars for specific courts, judges, or attorneys and law firms. [34] X Research source
- Make sure you have correct information for the search option you've chosen. For example, if you've been sued but you're unsure how to spell the plaintiff's name, you probably should search using your own name instead. The search engine will only return exact matches to the information you enter, not similar or related spellings. [35] X Research source
-
Enter your information. Once you've chosen the search option that suits your needs, enter as much information as you have to narrow down your search results.
- Providing additional information can make your search faster and increase the odds that you will find the date you need.
- For example, if you want to search by party name, the search form allows you to enter the party's name, and whether they are a plaintiff or defendant. You also have the option to limit your search to a particular county and year of filing, as well as indicating whether to search open or closed cases. [36] X Research source
-
Verify your search results. Once you've found your court date on the website, you should call the clerk of court to confirm the date and time are correct before relying on it.
- The central clerk's office also will be able to provide additional information such as the location of the courtroom in which the hearing will be held.
Advertisement
Expert Q&A
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Tips
- You also can find a court date by visiting the location where the case will be heard and asking the clerk for court date information.Thanks
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisement
References
- ↑ http://dmv.ny.gov/brochure/traffic-violations-bureau
- ↑ http://dmv.ny.gov/brochure/traffic-violations-bureau
- ↑ http://dmv.ny.gov/brochure/traffic-violations-bureau
- ↑ http://www1.nyc.gov/site/finance/vehicles/dispute-a-ticket.page
- ↑ http://www1.nyc.gov/nyc-resources/service/1652/fight-a-parking-ticket
- ↑ http://dmv.ny.gov/brochure/traffic-violations-bureau
- ↑ http://dmv.ny.gov/tickets/tickets-received-rochester-or-new-york-city
- ↑ http://dmv.ny.gov/tickets/tickets-received-rochester-or-new-york-city
- ↑ http://dmv.ny.gov/brochure/traffic-violations-bureau
- ↑ http://dmv.ny.gov/tickets/tickets-received-rochester-or-new-york-city
- ↑ http://dmv.ny.gov/brochure/traffic-violations-bureau
- ↑ http://dmv.ny.gov/tickets/tickets-received-rochester-or-new-york-city
- ↑ http://dmv.ny.gov/brochure/traffic-violations-bureau
- ↑ http://dmv.ny.gov/brochure/traffic-violations-bureau
- ↑ http://dmv.ny.gov/brochure/traffic-violations-bureau
- ↑ http://dmv.ny.gov/brochure/traffic-violations-bureau
- ↑ http://dmv.ny.gov/brochure/traffic-violations-bureau
- ↑ http://dmv.ny.gov/brochure/traffic-violations-bureau
- ↑ http://dmv.ny.gov/brochure/traffic-violations-bureau
- ↑ https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/webcrim_attorney/AttorneyWelcome
- ↑ https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/webcrim_attorney/DefendantSearch
- ↑ https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/webcrim_attorney/CaseIdentifierSearch
- ↑ https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/webcrim_attorney/AttorneyWelcome
- ↑ https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/webcrim_attorney/AttorneyWelcome
- ↑ https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/webcrim_attorney/AttorneyWelcome
- ↑ https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/webcrim_attorney/CaseIdentifierSearch
- ↑ https://www.nycourts.gov/courts/nyc/criminal/faqs.shtml#open
- ↑ https://www.nycourts.gov/courts/nyc/civil/motions.shtml
- ↑ https://www.nycourts.gov/courts/nyc/civil/motions.shtml
- ↑ https://www.nycourts.gov/courts/nyc/civil/motions.shtml
- ↑ https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/webcivil/FCASCalendarSearch
- ↑ https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/webcivil/FCASCalendarSearch
- ↑ https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/webcivil/FCASCalendarSearch
- ↑ https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/webcivil/FCASMain
- ↑ https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/webcivil/FCASSearch?param=P
- ↑ https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/webcivil/FCASSearch?param=P
About This Article
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 70,286 times.
Advertisement