New York County Traffic Court Records

New York County traffic court records cover all traffic tickets and violations filed in Manhattan. New York County is one of the five boroughs, and traffic cases here go through the DMV Traffic Violations Bureau rather than a regular court. The TVB system is unique to the five boroughs and works differently from the rest of the state. The County Clerk's Office at 60 Centre Street handles filed court documents for other case types. This page explains how traffic cases work in Manhattan, where to search for records, and how to handle a ticket if you got one here.

New York County Traffic Court Records

Traffic tickets in Manhattan go through the DMV Traffic Violations Bureau. The TVB is not a regular court. An Administrative Law Judge hears cases instead of a criminal court judge. This system covers all non-criminal moving violations in the five boroughs. There is no plea bargaining at the TVB. You plead guilty and pay, or you plead not guilty and go to a hearing. Those are your only options.

The TVB handles things like speeding, running a red light, failure to yield, improper turns, and using a cell phone while driving. It does not handle parking tickets, red light camera tickets, speed camera tickets, or criminal charges like DWI. Parking tickets go through the city's finance department. Criminal traffic charges go to the New York County Criminal Court. Camera violations go to the registered owner and carry fines but no points.

Manhattan has dedicated TVB office locations where you can appear for hearings or make payments in person. You can also handle your ticket online through the DMV plea and payment portal.

New York County Traffic Court Records

Searching for traffic court records in New York County depends on the type of case. For TVB matters, the DMV maintains the records. You can check the status of a TVB ticket through the DMV's online system. For criminal traffic cases that went through the Criminal Court, the WebCriminal database lets you search by defendant name or case number. The NYSCEF portal covers Supreme Court e-filings for civil cases.

The screenshot below shows the Manhattan TVB office locations page, which lists where you can go in person to deal with a traffic ticket.

TVB offices have set hours and can get crowded, so plan for wait times if you go in person.

The New York County Clerk's Office at 60 Centre Street is where other court documents are filed. You can reach them at 212-374-8366. For traffic records specifically, the DMV and the court that handled the case are your best sources. The NYS courts records page explains how to request documents through FOIL.

Criminal Traffic Court Records Cases

Not all traffic charges go through the TVB. Criminal traffic offenses in Manhattan are heard in the New York County Criminal Court. This includes DWI, driving with a suspended license (when it is charged as a misdemeanor), reckless driving, and leaving the scene of an accident. These cases follow the standard criminal court process -- you get arraigned, you can have a lawyer, and plea bargaining is possible.

The Criminal Court handles misdemeanors and conducts arraignments for felonies. If your traffic charge is criminal, you will get a court date and need to appear. The process is slower and more formal than the TVB. Records from criminal traffic cases are searchable through the WebCriminal system and the county clerk's office.

New York County Court System

New York County has one of the most complex court systems in the state. It includes the Supreme Court for civil and criminal cases, the Civil Court for claims up to $25,000 and small claims up to $10,000, the Criminal Court, Family Court, and Surrogate's Court. There are also specialized courts for housing, commercial disputes, and more. The 1st Judicial District covers New York County exclusively.

For traffic matters, the key distinction is whether your case is a TVB matter or a criminal case. TVB tickets are the majority of traffic cases in Manhattan. Criminal traffic cases make up a smaller portion but are more serious. The court system website and the DMV website are the two main places to start any search for New York County traffic records.

Paying Manhattan Traffic Fines

You can pay TVB fines online, by mail, or in person at a TVB office. The DMV plea and payment page lets you handle everything online. You need your ticket number to log in. Fines depend on the violation. On top of the fine, there is a mandatory surcharge. If you do not pay or respond within 15 days, the DMV will suspend your license.

For criminal traffic fines, payment goes through the Criminal Court. The NY.gov traffic violation payment page may also direct you to the right place. New York's point system applies to all convictions -- TVB or criminal court. The DMV point system page shows what each violation costs in terms of points. At 11 points in 18 months, your license is suspended.

Note: Ignoring a TVB ticket in Manhattan can lead to a default conviction, added penalties, and a suspended license even if you live out of state.

Cities in New York County

New York City covers all of New York County (Manhattan). Traffic cases from anywhere in the borough go through the TVB or Criminal Court system described above. There are no separate town or village courts in Manhattan.

Nearby Counties

New York County (Manhattan) borders these counties:

• Bronx County -- to the north
• Kings County -- across the East River (Brooklyn)
• Queens County -- across the East River
• Richmond County -- across the harbor (Staten Island)
• Westchester County -- to the north