JUSTICE COURT
Presiding
Justice:
Ambrose P. Madden Court Clerk: Maureen A. Roberts
Mailing Address:
44 Park Street, Port Crane, NY 13833
Phone:
607-648-4801 Ext. 1
Fax: 607-648-4366
Directions:
From
Binghamton/Endicott/Owego area heading east:
Take I-88 E/ NY
Route 7; take Exit 3, left on Route 369 at traffic light, turn
right onto Park Street (directly past Lindsey’s Lawn Care). Town
Hall is located at the end of Park Street.
Entrance is through the main double doors.
From
Harpursville/Albany area heading west:
Take I-88 W; take
Exit 3, turn left on Route 369, pass under underpass and take
immediate left on Park Street.
Town Hall is
located at the end of Park Street. Entrance is through the
main double doors.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
When are the
Court Sessions held?
Court is in
session on Thursday commencing at 9:00am. The first Wednesday of
every month is set aside for scheduled pre trials (misdemeanors) and
non-jury trials (violations). Please see additional information
under evictions and small claims proceedings.
What are your
office hours?
Monday -
Friday 8:00am – 1:00 pm*
*Office hours are
often extended. You may leave a telephone message at any time. If
no one is in the justice office at the time of your call, you may
leave a message and your call will be returned. Messages are
checked on a daily basis. A locked drop box is located to the
left of the justice office. You may leave a plea or payment. If
you wish to be provided with a receipt, you must leave a self
addressed stamped envelope. The drop box may also be accessed at
the outside rear of the building.
How do I file a
small claim and how much is the filing fee?
Small Claims
can be filed with the Court Clerk. The party you are filing
against must live, work or have a place of business in the Town of
Fenton and receive their mail in the Town of Fenton. You must
provide the court with an exact mailing address. Post office boxes
are not acceptable. The maximum amount to claim is $3000.00. If
the amount exceeds $3,000.00 you may file in city court. For claims
up to $1000.00, the filing fee is $10.00. For claims over $1000.00
the filing fee is $15.00. It is recommended that you call ahead to
make an appointment to file the paperwork. For more information you
may pick up a booklet on small claims at the court office.
Is there an
alternative to filing a Small Claim?
Yes. You can
contact ACCORD (A Center for Dispute Resolution, Inc.). This is a
mediator service, which is free. In Broome County you can call
607-724-5153. Email at
accord@stny.rr.com In
Tioga County call 607-687-8222. Email at
tcaccord@pronetisp.net.
You may also view
the New York State Guide to Small Claims Court by clicking on the
link below:
Eviction
Proceedings
Evictions are
heard on Thursday mornings. Please call the court to
confirm specific date and time. The filing fee is $20.00.
Eviction Instructions (PDF)
Additional Resources:
www.nycourthelp.gov
www.courts.state.ny.us/courts/8jd/pdfs/L&T/holdover/HoldoverFormsPacket.pdf
www.nycourts.gov/courts/8jd/pdfs/L&T/nonpay/NonPaymentManual.pdf
How do I answer
my traffic ticket?
It is the
obligation of the receiving motorist to respond to the ticket. Upon
receiving the charge(s) you must either appear on the date listed on
the bottom of the ticket or you may sign the ticket
according to the written instructions, indicating your plea of
either guilty or not guilty and mail it to the court. Upon a plea
of guilty, a fine and surcharge will be assessed and you will be
notified by mail of the amount due. Upon a plea of not guilty, you
will be sent further information on how to proceed.
IF THE CHARGE
IS A MISDEMEANOR, YOU MUST APPEAR IN PERSON ON THE DATE AND TIME
LISTED AND ENTER YOUR PLEA IN FRONT OF THE JUDGE. A supporting
deposition or more detailed account of the incident may be requested
if you did not receive one when the ticket(s) were issued.
Note: Be sure to review ALL information printed on you ticket(s). To plead guilty, complete and sign Part A of your
ticket; to plead not guilty, complete and sign Part B of your
ticket.
I'd like to speak with someone regarding a reduction or
plea bargain.
If you are charged with a traffic violation and before any plea
bargains are accepted, you must first enter a plea of not guilty by
appearing for arraignment before the judge or by completing Part B
on the traffic ticket(s) you were issued. You may mail or drop
the signed ticket(s) to the court office. Once a plea of not
guilty has been entered with the court, you would receive further
information with regard to plea bargaining.
What if I missed
a court date?
Call the court or
your attorney
immediately. You may be subject to a license suspension or a
warrant could be issued for your arrest.
How do I contact
New York State DMV?
1-800-CALLDMV -
available within NY State
1-518-474-0774
My license is
suspended or is going to be suspended. What do I do?
Depending on the
reason for your suspension, you must either
pay the fine/surcharge due or appear in court. If your license is
suspended, and the effective date is July 5, 2009 or before,
you will be required to pay a Suspension Termination Fee
of $35.00 per suspension. Suspensions that go into effect
on or after July 6, 2009, suspended drivers must pay $70.00. The Notice of Suspension from NYS DMV will
give further information regarding this fee, or you can go to their
website
www.nysdmv.com Submit your
identified payment as outlined in the next question along with a
self-addressed stamped envelope. Send the Notice of License
Suspension Order for endorsement. Call the court clerk if you do
not know the total amount due or for information on scheduling a new
court date.
What is the Driver's Responsibility Act (DRA) and do I have to
pay that fee?
Go to NYS Department of Motor Vehicles' website
www.nysdmv.com for a clearer
explanation of that fee. Or call 518-402-2851. Yes, you
must pay that according to the instructions you received or outlined
on that site. It is a separate fee imposed by NYSDMV and is
apart from the fine/surcharge you must pay to the court.
How do I make
a payment?
Payments may be
made by US Postal Service, in person or by leaving it in the Town of
Fenton Court locked drop box. Cash, money order, or personal checks
made payable to the Town of Fenton Court are accepted. Be sure to
include a case number, ticket number, or name for proper posting.
Include a self-addressed stamp envelope with your payment if you
desire a receipt. Credit card payments are also accepted
using VISA or Mastercard - Call the court during normal business
hours for instructions.
I lost my fine notice; how can I pay by credit card now?
You can print out the form by clicking below.
Be sure you verify the amount due by calling and speaking with the
court clerk. If your license is suspended, you may also owe
the Suspension Termination Fee and verification by the court clerk
will ascertain the total amount due. Credit card authorization
payments with the incorrect amount will NOT be processed.
Credit Card Authorization
Send to the address listed on the top of this page,
or you may fax the form if you wish. If you want your receipt,
send a self-addressed stamped envelope with your payment.
Broome County
District Attorney’s Office
If you wish to
contact the District Attorney’s Office they may be reached by mail:
Broome County
District Attorney’s Office
Post Office Box 1766 45 Hawley Street, 4th Floor
Binghamton, NY 13902
Or by phone:
607-778-2198
Do I need a
lawyer to appear in court with me?
Although you are
not required to have an attorney it is not recommended that you
proceed to trial without the aid of counsel.
How do I obtain
representation by the Public Defender?
Call the Broome
County Public Defender’s Office at 607-778-2403 for further
questions or to make an appointment for a qualifying interview. You
are required to notify the court of your scheduled appointment.
Office is located
at: 45 Hawley Street, 6th Floor, Binghamton, NY
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