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 at 518-439-4955, option 5, then option 2.
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 it to the Court. You should not appear on the date on the ticket if you have mailed in a not guilty plea. In addition, if you cannot appear at the date and time issued on the ticket and do not wish to appear in person for a future court date you may follow the instructions for pleading by mail.
