Justice Court

Attention Prospective Jurors

There are no messages for jurors at this time.  Thank you.

Presiding Justices:

Hon. Annette M. Slocum
Hon. Gregory A. Gates

Mailing Address:

Town of Dickinson Justice Court
531 Old Front Street
Binghamton, NY 13905

Telephone: (607) 723-9403
Fax: (607) 723-3530

Court Office Hours:

Monday-Friday 9:00am-4:00pm
Arraignments: Every Tuesday at 4:00pm
Scheduled Pretrials and Non-Jury Trials: Second and third Tuesday of each month (Pretrial and Non-Jury Trial notices will be sent to advise you of your date and time).

Frequently Asked Questions:

Where is the Court?

The court is located in the Town of Dickinson office.  For further information, visit our Directions page.

How do I answer my traffic ticket?

You may have received a hand-written ticket or a computer-generated ticket.  It is the obligation of the receiving motorist to respond to the ticket.  If the charges are NOT MISDEMEANORS you can either appear on the date listed on the bottom of the ticket or you may complete section A or B on the ticket to indicate your plea or either guilty or not guilty.  You then mail the entire ticket to the court:

Dickinson Town Court
531 Old Front Street
Binghamton, NY 13905

If you do not appear your license may be suspended.

Upon a plea of guilty, a fine and surcharge may be assessed and you will be notified by mail of the amount due and the process to make the payment.  Upon a plea of not guilty, you will be sent further information on how to proceed.  If you have been charged with a misdemeanor, you must appear in person on the date and time listed on the ticket.

Why isn't the fine listed on my ticket?

Once a plea of guilty has been entered, the judge may assess a fine, and a Notice of Fine will be mailed to you with the amount due and the instructions for payment.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE COURT MUST HAVE A CURRENT AND CORRECT MAILING ADDRESS.

What is a supporting deposition?

A supporting deposition is a more detailed account of the ticket you were issued.  If you received an electronically-generated ticket, you may have been handed a supporting deposition at the same time you were handed your ticket from the officer.

How many points are assessed?

For the most current information, go to http://www.nysdmv.com.

How do I enter into a plea bargain regarding the ticket I received?

Before any plea bargains are accepted, you must first submit your plea of NOT GUILTY to the Court by signing "Part B" of the ticket you were issued and mail or drop it off at the court office.  The address is listed above.  After a plea is entered you will receive further information from the court.

If you no longer have your uniform traffic ticket given to you by the officer, you may use the link below to obtain a generic form.  Be sure the entire form is completed and returned to the address shown on the form.  If the entire form is not completed, it will not be processed.  If you are not sure of your ticket number you will need to contact the court.

Generic Mail-In Plea Form

My license is suspended or is going to be suspended.  What do I do?

1. If you are suspended for failure to pay a fine you will need to contact the court clerk to obtain the total amount due including possible Suspension Termination Fees*.
2. If you have received a Notice of Suspension from NYS DMV and are not yet suspended for failure to pay a fine, you must submit payment in full as shown on the form prior to the suspension effective date to avoid the Suspension Termination Fee*.
3. If you are suspended for failure to answer a summons you will need to contact the court to obtain your next course of action.
4. If you have received a Notice of Suspension from NYS DMV and are not yet suspended for failure to answer a summons, you will need to either appear in court or contact the court prior to the suspension effective date.

* 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.  For suspensions that went into effect on or after July 6, 2009, the Suspension Termination Fee is $70.00 per suspension.

How do I make payment?

Can I pay with a personal or business check? No.

Can I pay online? No.

Can I pay over the phone? No.

Can I make partial payments? No.

You may make payment via Money Order payable to "Dickinson Town Court" or cash (if in person).  Visa, MasterCard, and Discover are accepted in person, or by completing the lower portion of your fine notice and mailing back to the court.  If signature and credit card information are someone other than the defendant, proof of signature must accompany this payment (copy of driver's license).

All payments must be made in US currency.

If you would like a receipt for your payment, send a self-addressed stamped envelope with your payment.

What if I misplaced the original fine notice and want to make a credit card payment through the mail?

Credit Card Authorization Form

Do I need a lawyer to appear in court with me?

Although you are not required to have an attorney, you have a right to have representation at every step of the proceeding.  It is not recommended that you proceed to trial without the aid of counsel, but you do have that right.

For more information on court proceedings in New York State, visit the New York State Unified Court System website.

How do I obtain representation by the Public Defender?

The Broome County Public Defender's Office only represents on violations, misdemeanors and felonies.  They do not represent on simple traffic infractions.  You must call their office at (607) 778-2403 to make an intake appointment to see if you financially qualify for representation.  You are required to notify the court of your scheduled appointment.  Please contact the Public Defender's Office with any further questions.

What if I've missed a court date?

Call the court immediately.  You may be subject to a license suspension or a warrant could be issued for your arrest.

What can I do if I am a victim of a violent crime?

You can contact:

SOS Shelter Advocacy Office at 1201 Main Street in Endicott, NY (across from U-E High School), at (607) 748-5174.  The 24-hour Crisis Line is (607) 754-4340.  This hotline is for information and referrals to their shelter and/or other services and support.

Crime Victims Assistance Center Advocate Program at 45 Hawley Street, Binghamton, NY, (607) 779-2423.  Ask for the Crime Victim Advocate.  The 24-hour Crisis Line is (607) 722-4256.  This hotline is for information and referrals for victims of domestic violence as well as accompaniment to hospitals and law enforcement agencies.  Their website is www.cvac.us.

For additional information you can visit the website for the New York State Crime Victim Board at cvb.state.ny.us.

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 against which you are filing must live, work, or have a place of business in the Town of Dickinson.  You must have the exact mailing address.  Post office boxes are not acceptable.  The allowable maximum amount to claim is $3,000.00.  For claims up to $1,000.00, the filing fee is $10.00.  For claims over $1,000 the filing fee is $15.00.  You must call ahead to make an appointment to file the paperwork.  For more information, you may pick up the New York State Guide to Small Claims Court 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, or e-mail them at accord@stny.rr.com.  In Tioga County call (607) 687-8222, or e-mail them at tcaccord@pronetisp.net.

When are evictions heard and how much is the filing fee?

Evictions are heard on the first and fourth Tuesdays at 3:00pm.  You must call the Court to set up a date.  The filing fee is $20.00.

Additional Resources:

http://www.nycourts.gov/courts/8jd/pdfs/L&T/nonpay/NonPaymentManual.pdf

http://www.courts.state.ny.us/courts/8jd/pdfs/L&T/holdover/HoldoverFormsPacket.pdf

http://www.nycourts.gov/courts/8jd/pdfs/L&T/nonpay/NonPaymentManual.pdf

I have been drawn as a prospective juror, what do I need to do?

Be sure to read your entire Jury Summons Notice.  You are to call the court after 5:00pm the day before the scheduled trial.  A recording will advise you whether or not you need to report. 

You can visit the Jury Commissioner's Office at http://www.nyjuror.gov/countyinformation/?broome

Where do I park?

Parking is located on either side of the Town Hall.