Traffic Unit - Binghamton City Court

How to Resolve a Traffic Ticket in the Binghamton City Court

Review your ticket(s) to determine if you have been issued a ticket for a "misdemeanor" or "traffic infraction." If you have been issued a misdemeanor ticket you must appear in the City Court to be arraigned before a City Court Judge on the return date written on the ticket. You can not use these instructions.

Pleading Guilty | Pleading Not Guilty | Contacting the Broome County District Attorney | Paying a Fine or Mandatory Surcharge

 

 

Pleading Guilty

You can plead GUILTY: by filling in Section A of the ticket. You need to fill out ticket completely (including your current mailing address) and sign it. You can return your plea of guilty by mail to or in person at the City Court Clerk's Office or at Traffic Court pursuant to the Court's schedule (click here for court schedule).

If you send your plea by mail, the Court will notify you, by mail, of the fines and mandatory surcharge, if any, assessed.

If you have any questions regarding this procedure, you may contact the City Court Clerk's office.

NOTE: Within 60 days of the issuance of the ticket, you MUST contact the Court directly, in writing, or appear in Court and plead either guilty or not guilty to avoid suspension of your driver's license.

 

Pleading Not Guilty

You can plead NOT GUILTY:by filling in Section B of the ticket, signing it, and mailing it to the Court within forty-eight (48) hours of receiving the ticket. Be sure to include your current mailing address. You can also plead not guilty by appearing in person in Court on the court date specified on your ticket.

You can request a Supporting Deposition by checking the appropriate box on the ticket. (A Supporting Deposition will provide you with additional information regarding the basis for the ticket). A Supporting Deposition request must be timely; within 30 days following your arraignment appearance before the Court or within 30 days following your plea by mail (when the not guilty plea by mail has been received by the Court within 48 hours of the issuance of the ticket). The Court will then order the Supporting Deposition from the police officer who issued the ticket. The police officer will have 30 days from the date of your request to mail you the Supporting Deposition.

After pleading “Not Guilty” your case will be scheduled for a pre-trial conference at which you will have a chance to meet with the District Attorney and discuss your case; you will receive written confirmation of the conference date from the Court.

In the event that you fail to appear for the pre-trial conference, absent a communication with the Court and good cause being shown, your failure to appear shall in due course be reported to the Department of Motor Vehicles and your privilege to operate a motor vehicle will be suspended.

If the matter is not resolved after your appearance at the pre-trial conference a non-jury trial will be scheduled. At the trial, the prosecutor must present evidence to the Court. You will have the right to cross-examine the prosecutor's witness(es) and, if you choose, to present evidence to the Court, which can include testimony from yourself or from other individuals. If you require a subpoena for witnesses, you can apply for a subpoena at the time you are notified of the trial date. At the conclusion of the trial, the Judge will either render a verdict (finding you guilty or not guilty) or reserve decision. If the court reserves decision, a written decision will be issued by the Judge, a copy of which will be sent to you at the address on file with the Court.

If the court finds you not guilty on all of the tickets, this will end the case.

If the court finds you guilty of one or more of the tickets, a fine and mandatory surcharge, if applicable, (click here for payment information) will be assessed.

You have the right to appeal a traffic infraction conviction. Click here for instructions on how to appeal.

If you have any questions regarding this procedure, you may contact the City Court Clerk's office.

NOTE: Within 60 days of the issuance of the ticket, you MUST contact the Court directly, in writing, or appear in Court and plead either guilty or not guilty to avoid suspension of your driver's license.

 

Contacting the Broome County District Attorney

For more information regarding traffic tickets in Broome County you may visit the Broome County District Attorney website at: www.gobroomecounty.com/da/traffic.

 

Paying a Fine or Mandatory Surcharge

If you are assessed a fine and mandatory surcharge: you must make payment to the court as directed by the Court. If you submit a written plea of guilty, you will be mailed a fine letter indicating the amount of the fine and the date that the fine must be paid. Be sure that your current mailing address is on file with the Court.

If you appear in Court, the court will verbally advise you of the amount of the fine and the date that payment is due. If you forget the date that payment is due, you may contact Binghamton City Court.

PAYING IN PERSON

If you are paying in person, you should appear at the Clerk's office.

The Court does not accept personal or business checks. Payment MUST be made in cash, money order or bank certified check made payable to Binghamton City Court. You may also pay by credit card. Please know there will be an additional 2.99% fee.

PAYING BY MAIL

If you are paying by mail, you should include a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return of your receipt.

The Court does not accept personal or business checks.  The only payments that can be accepted by mail are a money order or bank certified check made payable to Binghamton City Court.

NOTE: Failure to pay your fines WILL result in suspension of your driver's license.