Cattaraugus Traffic Court Records
Traffic court records in Cattaraugus County are handled by 32 town courts and multiple village courts scattered across this large, rural county in southwestern New York. The county seat is Little Valley, where the County Clerk's Office and the higher courts are based at 303 Court Street. Interstate 86, the Southern Tier Expressway, runs through the county and is the biggest source of traffic citations here. State Police patrol that highway and issue most of the speeding tickets. This page covers where to find your case, how to pay fines, and what options you have for fighting a ticket in Cattaraugus County.
Cattaraugus County Traffic Court Records
Cattaraugus Traffic Court Records
Cattaraugus County has one of the largest numbers of town courts in the state. There are 32 town courts: Allegany, Ashford, Carrollton, Coldspring, Conewango, Dayton, East Otto, Ellicottville, Farmersville, Franklinville, Freedom, Great Valley, Hinsdale, Humphrey, Ischua, Leon, Little Valley, Lyndon, Machias, Mansfield, Napoli, New Albion, Olean, Otto, Perrysburg, Persia, Portville, Randolph, Red House, Salamanca, South Valley, and Yorkshire. Village Courts include Allegany, Cattaraugus, Delevan, Ellicottville, Franklinville, Gowanda, Little Valley, and Portville.
These are "not courts of record." They handle traffic infractions, local ordinance violations, misdemeanor arraignments, and small claims cases. The court listed on your ticket is the one you need to contact. Each has its own clerk, schedule, and procedures. Most hold sessions in the evening a few times per month. Appeals from these courts are heard de novo in County Court -- meaning the whole case starts over fresh at the higher level.
Cattaraugus Traffic Court Records
The higher courts in Cattaraugus County are all based at 303 Court Street, Little Valley, NY 14755. Supreme Court and County Court share the same address and phone number: (716) 938-9111. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Family Court is at the same location but has its own line at (716) 938-2350. Surrogate's Court uses the same phone as the other courts.
There are also two city courts in the county. Olean City Court is at 101 East State Street, Olean, NY 14760, phone (716) 376-5642. Salamanca City Court is at 225 Wildwood Avenue, Salamanca, NY 14779, phone (716) 945-1700. These city courts handle traffic violations, misdemeanors, and other matters within their city limits. If you got a ticket in Olean or Salamanca, your case goes to the respective city court rather than a town court.
Traffic Ticket Basics
Interstate 86 is the primary source of traffic citations in Cattaraugus County. The New York State Police patrol this highway exclusively. US Route 219 is the second busiest road, with speed limits capped at 55 mph. If you were pulled over on either of these roads, the ticket tells you which court to contact.
Most traffic courts in Cattaraugus County allow plea bargaining. This is different from the TVB system in New York City, where no deals are possible. Here, the District Attorney's office may offer to reduce your charge to a lesser violation. For example, a speeding ticket might be reduced to a non-moving violation that carries no points. This depends on your driving record, the speed involved, and other factors. Having a traffic lawyer can help with negotiations. The Benjamin Goldman Law Office and other traffic attorneys regularly handle cases in Cattaraugus County courts.
The County Clerk's Office accepts payments by cash, check, money order, cashier check, or credit card. Credit cards are accepted for charges of $20.00 and over, but there is a mandatory 2.5% processing fee. Copies of recordings cost $1.00 per page, and copies of filings cost $1.00 per page with a $4.00 minimum.
Searching Records Online
The County Clerk at 303 Court Street is responsible for recording all land documents and serving as clerk for the Supreme and County courts. The office also oversees the Department of Motor Vehicle Bureau offices in the county. Online access to records is available through SearchIQS. You can search court documents and land records from there. Not all records are online, so some may need an in-person visit to the clerk's office.
Since Cattaraugus County has no county-specific images in our database, here is a screenshot of the statewide court records resource for reference.
The New York State Courts website explains the process for obtaining court records across all counties, including Cattaraugus.
For a statewide criminal record search, the NYS Office of Court Administration charges a $55 fee. Contact them at 25 Beaver Street, New York, NY 10004, phone 212-428-2943. The NYS Courts records page has step-by-step instructions on getting records from any court in the state. E-recording is available through Corporation Service Company, eRecording Partners Network, and Simplifile for those who need to file documents electronically.
Nearby Counties
Cattaraugus County sits in the southwestern corner of New York State. These neighboring counties have their own court systems for tickets issued in their areas.