St. Lawrence County Traffic Ticket Records
St. Lawrence County traffic ticket records are managed by the county courthouse in Canton and by town and village Justice Courts spread across this large rural county in northern New York. St. Lawrence is the biggest county in the state by land area, bordering Canada along the St. Lawrence River. Traffic cases are heard by local courts, and the District Attorney runs a traffic reduction program that can help eligible drivers get lesser charges. If you received a ticket here, the court listed on your ticket holds your traffic ticket records.
St. Lawrence County Traffic Ticket Records Overview
St. Lawrence County Courts and Traffic Ticket Records
The St. Lawrence County Courthouse is at 48 Court Street, Canton, NY 13617. Supreme and County Court matters go through this building. The Chief Clerk is Neika Mayo, and the Deputy Chief Clerk is Sue Simms. You can call 315-379-2219 or email 4JDStLawCo@nycourts.gov. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. E-filing is mandatory for certain case types in the county.
St. Lawrence County is part of the 4th Judicial District. Town and village Justice Courts handle most traffic ticket records in the county. Each town court has its own judge, schedule, and clerk. The court name and address are on your ticket. If you got stopped in a small town like Potsdam, Massena, or Gouverneur, the local town court is where your case goes. If you lost your ticket, you can check MyDMV or use the state court locator to find your court's contact info.
St. Lawrence County Traffic Reduction Program
The St. Lawrence County District Attorney runs a Traffic Reduction Program that can help eligible drivers get their charges reduced. This is one of the more useful tools for handling traffic ticket records in the county. The program requires you to take a Traffic Safety Course within 10 days of starting. The course costs $60.00, plus a $5.00 credit card fee charged by Advent, the course provider.
There is an important rule: do not plead guilty on your ticket if you plan to seek a reduction. Once you plead guilty, you lose your chance. The program is not available for all violations. Ineligible offenses include speeding more than 41 mph over the limit or over 100 mph, DWI, DWAI, aggravated unlicensed operation, reckless driving, suspended registration, leaving the scene of an accident, driving without insurance, child seat belt violations, failure to stop for a school bus, speeding in school zones, speeding in work zones, and use of a portable electronic device while driving.
You are also not eligible if you had a reduction in the last 18 months or if you already sent your ticket back with a guilty plea. The traffic safety courses are available in English and Spanish through the Advent e-learning platform. This is a real opportunity to keep points off your record, but you have to act fast and follow the rules exactly.
St. Lawrence County Specialty Courts
St. Lawrence County has several specialty court parts that handle specific types of cases. The Integrated Domestic Violence Part is overseen by Hon. Craig Carriero at 315-379-2383. The County Court Felony Drug Treatment Part is led by Hon. Marcia LeMay at 315-379-2247. Ogdensburg City Court runs a Misdemeanor Treatment Part HUB at 330 Ford Street, Ogdensburg, NY 13669, reachable at 315-393-5408. These specialty courts do not handle regular traffic cases, but drivers facing DWI or drug-related driving charges may end up in one of these parts.
St. Lawrence County Traffic Ticket Fines and Points
Fines for traffic ticket records in St. Lawrence County follow state law. Under VTL Section 1800, a first infraction can mean up to $150. A second within 18 months rises to $300. Third or more in that window can reach $450. Speeding fines under VTL Section 1180 range from $45 to $600 depending on how far over the limit you were. School zone fines double. A mandatory surcharge is added to every fine.
The DMV Driver Point System tracks points from every conviction. Hit 11 in 18 months and your license can be suspended. At 6 points, a Driver Responsibility Assessment kicks in at $300 up front. You have 60 days to respond to any ticket or your license faces suspension, with a $70 surcharge per ticket added. Taking a defensive driving course can subtract up to 4 points for suspension purposes.
What If Your St. Lawrence County Case Goes to Trial
If you plead not guilty to a traffic ticket in St. Lawrence County, your case goes to trial. For jury information, the daily call-in number is 1-800-479-5879. Parking is available in the courthouse parking lot and behind the Harold B. Smith Social Services Building on Judson Street. Court hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with a lunch break. Jury pay is $40.00 per day under New York State law. Most traffic ticket trials are bench trials heard by a judge, but you do have the right to a jury trial for certain offenses.
Cities in St. Lawrence County
St. Lawrence County has several cities and villages, but none meet the population threshold for a dedicated page. Ogdensburg, Canton, Potsdam, and Massena are the largest communities. Traffic cases in these areas are handled by their respective city or town courts.