Town Justice Courts play a vital role in the New York State Unified Court System.
Town courts have broad jurisdiction and they hear both civil and criminal matters.
On the civil side, the Town Court hear actions seeking monetary awards up to $3,000 and small
claims proceedings for awards up to $3,000. The court also handles landlord/tenant matters that may
result in an eviction as well as a money judgment for back rent that is due.
The Town Court also hears small claims proceedings intended to provide a low-cost, simplified and
informal procedure for individuals to resolve disputes involving limited monetary claims. Often
individual litigants do not use an attorney in these matters and are not required to do so.
On the criminal side, the Town Court is authorized to handle matters involving the prosecution of
misdemeanors and violations that are committed within the town's geographic boundaries.
The Town Court also conducts arraignments and preliminary hearings in felony matters. In
addition, the court hears Vehicle and Traffic Law misdemeanors and traffic infractions.
Town Justices are required to be on-call 24 hours a day and are often called upon to arraign
misdemeanor and felony charges as well as to act as Family Court judges when Family Court is not in
session. In cases involving domestic violence, the judges are also authorized to issue orders of
protection.
Court Calendar
Criminal Court - 1st and 3rd Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. (see below)
Vehicle and Traffic Court - 2nd and 4th Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. (see below)
Town and State Police Pre-Conferences - 2nd and 4th Monday at 5:30 p.m.
Town and State Police Pre-Conferences - 2nd and 4th Wednesday at 8:00 a.m.
Civil and Small Claims Hearings - 2nd and 4th Wednesday at 8:00 a.m.
ANY court date should be verified by calling the court office at 439-4955,
option 5, option 2
Payments of fines or filing of small claim and civil cases may be done at the Town Court
Clerk's office on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Payments must be
made in the form of cash, money order, Visa, Master Card or certified check, no other checks will
be accepted. For more information, call
the Court Clerk's office.
Town Court Entrance at 447 Delaware Avenue, Delmar
Justice Court Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the Court mailing address?
A. The mailing address is located at the top of this page
Q. Are faxes accepted?
A. No faxes are accepted.
Q. What are the Court's hours?
A. The Court is open for assistance Monday through Friday from
8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and remains open through lunch.
Q. What types of payments will the Court accept?
A. The Court accepts payments by money order, Visa, Master Card, certified bank check or cash only. We are unable
to accept
personal checks. Payments must also be
made in full, no partial payments are accepted. If you wish to pay by
credit card via mail, please use the following link to obtain a
Credit Card
Authorization Form.
Q. What do I do if I get a traffic ticket?
A. When you receive a ticket from any police
agency (Town, State, Sheriff, Environmental Conservation), you should appear in Court on the date and
time indicated on the bottom portion of the motorist copy. If you have received a traffic
ticket which is a misdemeanor, a personal appearance is required. These
would include Vehicle and Traffic Law Sections 511, 512, 319 and 1212. If you are in
doubt about your particular ticket, please call the Court for clarification.
If you wish to plead GUILTY, please sign and date your
ticket under Section A (on the back of some tickets) of the motorist copy,
including any address changes and mail to the Court at the address indicated on
the ticket or as above.The Town
Justice will review your ticket and impose a fine in addition to any and all
MANDATORY surcharges.A
fine/surcharge notice will be mailed and you will be given 21 days to submit
payment.Failure to pay your fines
and surcharges promptly and in full will result in the New York State Department
of Motor Vehicles being notified to suspend your driving privileges, whether you
live in New York State or elsewhere.
If you cannot appear at the date and time indicated on the
ticket and wish to plead NOT GUILTY, please sign and date Section B, including
any address changes and mail to the Court.You SHOULD NOT appear on the date on the ticket if you have mailed in a
NOT GUILTY plea.
LICENSE SUSPENSIONS
The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles will be
notified by the Court if for a period of 60 days from the return date, last
adjournment date, or the date a fine/surcharge imposed by the Court was due, you
failed to appear or to pay the fine/surcharge.
The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles is not
authorized to terminate a suspension for failure to appear or to pay a
fine/surcharge until they are notified by the Court that you have paid a $35.00
(for older tickets only)
Scofflaw Suspension Termination Fee, and appeared in Court or paid the
fine/surcharge; as of July 6, 2009, that fee is now a minimum of
$70.00 per ticket with a cap of $400.00 total. The Suspension
Termination Fee is not payable if you appear or pay the fine/surcharge before
the suspension date indicated on the form.The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles also recommends that
motorists carry their copy of the suspension release for at least 6 months.
PARKING ORDINANCE
The Town of Bethlehem has a parking ordinance in effect
each year from November 1st through April 15th whereby no
vehicles are allowed to be parked on any town roads between 1:00
a.m. and 7:00 a.m. regardless of the weather.
This information is also posted on all roads as you enter the Town of
Bethlehem, as well as being published in the Bethlehem Report and the Spotlight
newspaper.
Q. What do I do if I get a parking ticket?
A. If you receive a parking ticket you have 20 days to mail
the Court payment or appear in Court as indicated on your ticket.After 20 days, the fine will be doubled.
SMALL CLAIMS AND CIVIL MATTERS
The Town of Bethlehem Justice Court holds sessions for
small claims and civil matters twice a month, generally on the 2nd
and 4th Wednesday mornings at 8:00 a.m.
A small claim form is available, below, to print for your
convenience, however, you must file the claim in person between 8:30 a.m. and
4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
There is a $3,000.00 limit for small claims actions.
The Defendant (the person or business you wish to bring to
Court) MUST live within the Town of Bethlehem, have an office for the
transaction of business or regular employment within the Town.
There are detailed small claims booklets available at the
Town Court which answers many of your questions more completely.
Civil Matters requirements:
Please contact the Court directly for specific dates and
times.
Town of Bethlehem: 445 Delaware Avenue, Delmar, NY 12054 Ph: 518.439.4955
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