Queens County Traffic Court Records
Traffic court records in Queens County work differently from the rest of New York State. Queens is one of the five boroughs of New York City, so all non-criminal traffic tickets here go through the DMV Traffic Violations Bureau instead of a regular court. There is no plea bargaining in the TVB system. If you got a traffic ticket in Queens, this page explains how the TVB works, where the offices are, and how to handle your case.
Queens County at a Glance
Queens County Traffic Court Records
The DMV Traffic Violations Bureau handles all non-criminal moving traffic violations in Queens. This covers speeding, running red lights, cell phone use, improper turns, and most other moving violations. The TVB does not handle parking tickets, red light camera tickets, speed camera tickets, or criminal charges like DWI. Those go to separate courts.
The biggest thing to know about the TVB is that there is no plea bargaining. None. You either plead guilty and pay, or you plead not guilty and go to a hearing. At the hearing, a DMV Administrative Law Judge decides your case. The judge can find you guilty or not guilty, set fines, and take action on your license. But the judge cannot reduce the charge or consider your driving history when deciding guilt.
You must answer your ticket within 15 days of the violation date. You can do this online at the DMV plea and payment portal, by mail, or in person at a TVB office. If you fail to answer, the DMV will suspend your license and enter a default conviction.
Queens County Traffic Court Records
Queens has two TVB offices. Which one you go to depends on where you got the ticket.
The Queens North TVB is at 30-56 Whitestone Expressway, 2nd Floor, in Flushing (zip code 11354). The Queens South TVB is at 168-35 Rockaway Boulevard, 2nd Floor, in Jamaica (zip code 11434). Both share the same phone number: (718) 488-5710. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Thursdays they stay open until 6:00 PM.
The DMV TVB office locations page lists all eight TVB offices across the five boroughs with addresses and hours.
The TVB offices do not take walk-ins. You need a scheduled hearing or a reservation to visit.
Important: TVB offices require appointments. You cannot walk in without a scheduled hearing or reservation.
Queens County Traffic Court Records
If you plead not guilty, you get a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. Here is what happens. The judge calls your case. The police officer who wrote the ticket testifies under oath about what happened. Then you (or your lawyer) get to ask the officer questions. After that, you can testify yourself, bring witnesses, or show evidence. You are not required to testify, and the judge cannot hold that against you.
The standard of proof is "clear and convincing evidence." That is lower than the "beyond a reasonable doubt" standard in criminal cases, but higher than a regular civil case. If the officer does not show up, your case is usually dismissed. But there is no guarantee the officer won't be there.
You can reschedule your hearing one time. The new date has to fall within 20 months of the ticket date. You do not have to appear in person -- you can submit a Statement in Place of Personal Appearance instead. But many people prefer to be there, especially if they want to cross-examine the officer.
If you are found guilty, you can appeal within 30 days using form AA-33. The appeal goes to the DMV Appeals Board.
Criminal Traffic Court Records Cases
Not all traffic matters go to the TVB. Criminal charges like DWI, aggravated unlicensed operation, and vehicular assault go to the Queens Criminal Court at 125-01 Queens Boulevard in Kew Gardens. These are handled by judges in the regular court system, not by TVB administrative law judges. The Queens County court system page has more on how criminal cases work in the 11th Judicial District.
If your ticket says "Criminal Court" on it rather than "Traffic Violations Bureau," you are dealing with a criminal charge. That is a different process with different rules and potentially much more serious consequences. You should strongly consider getting a lawyer for criminal traffic charges.
Online Options
The DMV has several online tools for handling Queens traffic tickets. The MyDMV portal lets you check your driving record, see open tickets, and view your point total. You can plead guilty and pay online, plead not guilty and schedule a hearing, change your plea, reschedule a hearing, or request email alerts when your ticket enters the system.
You cannot plead guilty online if the conviction would cause a suspension or revocation. In that case, you need to appear in person or send in a written statement. You also can't plead not guilty online if your license is already suspended for not answering a different ticket.
After a conviction, payment plans are available if you can't pay right away. The minimum monthly payment is typically $25. Missing payments can lead to more suspension problems, so stay on top of it if you set one up.
Points and Penalties
The point system works the same in Queens as everywhere else in New York. Convictions add points to your record based on the type of violation. Speeding 1-10 over is 3 points. Texting is 5 points. Reckless driving is 5 points. Failing to stop for a school bus is 8 points. Hit 11 in 18 months and you face suspension.
The Driver Responsibility Assessment kicks in at 6 points. That is a DMV bill separate from any court fines. A defensive driving course can take off up to 4 points and cut your insurance rates by 10 percent. The course is available online or in person.
Nearby Counties
Queens borders other NYC boroughs and Nassau County. Traffic tickets in each borough go to the TVB. Tickets in Nassau go to local courts where plea bargaining is available.
Queens in New York City
Queens is part of New York City. All traffic ticket matters for residents or visitors ticketed in Queens go through the TVB system described above. For city-wide traffic court information, see our main city page.