Find Albany Traffic Court Records
Traffic court records in Albany are handled through the Albany City Court Traffic Part, which sits in the basement of Albany City Hall. As the state capital, Albany sees a lot of commuter traffic and has an active traffic court. The Third Judicial District oversees court operations here. This page walks you through the court location, how to pay or fight a ticket, and how to search for traffic case records in the city of Albany.
Albany Traffic Court Quick Facts
Albany Traffic Court Records
The Albany City Court Traffic Part is at Albany City Hall, Basement Level, 24 Eagle Street, Albany, NY 12207. The phone number is 518-453-4630. You can also fax the court at 518-453-8699 or email albanycitytraffic@nycourts.gov. The court is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It closes on all state holidays.
Two judges serve the Traffic Part: Hon. William G. Kelly and Hon. Marisa Franchini. Anthony Mancino is the Chief Clerk. When you visit, you must pass through a magnetometer for security. The building is ADA accessible. Metered parking is on the streets around City Hall, and there are spots set aside for people with disabilities on the side of the building. CDTA bus lines stop near the courthouse.
The Albany City Court Traffic Part page on the New York State Courts website has full details on hours, judges, and how to reach the court.
The screenshot shows the official court page with the address, phone number, judges, and office hours for the Albany Traffic Part.
Albany Traffic Court Records
You get 15 days to answer a traffic ticket in Albany. The back of the ticket shows your options. You can plead guilty and pay, or plead not guilty and request a hearing.
For a guilty plea by mail, check the guilty box on the ticket. Sign it, then mail it with your payment to the address listed. The judge reviews your plea and sets the fine. A notice comes in the mail with the amount due. Make sure the court has your current mailing address so you get this letter.
For a not guilty plea, check that box and send the ticket back within 15 days. The court schedules a hearing and mails you the date. At the hearing, you can speak with the prosecutor about a possible plea deal. Many Albany traffic cases get resolved this way -- a speeding charge might be reduced to a non-moving violation with fewer or no points. But this depends on your record and the facts of the case. If you cannot reach a deal, the case goes to trial before a judge.
Do not ignore the ticket. If you fail to respond, the court enters a default guilty plea. The fine gets set, points go on your record, and the DMV may suspend your license for failure to answer.
Paying Traffic Court Records Fines
You can pay traffic fines at the court clerk's window in person during business hours. The court takes cash, money orders, and certified checks. Personal checks are generally not accepted. Credit card payments come with a fee.
Albany is listed as a participating city in the DMV parking scofflaw program. If you have outstanding parking tickets, the DMV can block your vehicle registration renewal. The parking violations office is at City Hall, Room 203 -- phone number (518) 434-5006. Clear any unpaid parking tickets to avoid registration problems.
For online payment options, some New York courts use third-party services. Check with the court clerk or the DMV parking scofflaw page for the latest on available payment methods in Albany.
Points and Driving Record
Each traffic conviction adds points to your NYS driving record. The number of points depends on the offense. Speeding just a few miles over the limit is 3 points. Going more than 40 mph over adds 11 points. Running a red light is 3 points. Texting while driving is 5 points.
If you accumulate 11 or more points in 18 months, your license can be suspended. Three speeding or misdemeanor convictions in 18 months can also lead to suspension, even if you stay under 11 points. The DMV also charges a Driver Responsibility Assessment fee -- an extra $300 for 6 points, plus $75 for each point over 6.
A defensive driving course reduces up to 4 points and gives you a 10% insurance discount for three years. The NYS Driver Point System page has all the details.
Looking Up Court Records
Call the court clerk at 518-453-4630 to check on any traffic case. Give them your name, date of birth, or ticket number. The clerk can tell you whether you have a pending case, what fines are owed, and when your next court date is.
For your full driving history, order an abstract through the MyDMV portal. This document lists all convictions, suspensions, and points on your license. You can also request it by mail from the DMV.
Albany County Connection
Albany is the county seat of Albany County and also serves as the New York State capital. The Albany County Court, located at the Judicial Center at 6 Lodge Street, handles felony cases and appeals from city and town courts in the county. If you want to appeal a traffic conviction from Albany City Court, the county court is the next step.
Other courts in Albany County include town and village justice courts in places like Guilderland, Bethlehem, and Colonie. If your ticket was issued in one of those towns, it goes to that town's court -- not Albany City Court. Check the court name on your ticket.
Nearby Cities
Several other cities near Albany have their own pages on this site with traffic court information.