Traffic Court Frequently Asked Questions, Court of Common Pleas
New Castle County

The Court of Common Pleas handles many thousands of traffic cases every year and makes every effort to dispose of them as quickly as possible. However, because the Court only has the capacity to schedule a certain number of cases for each event, and because of the caseload volume, it may take several months to schedule your matter.

Once you enter the courthouse, please take the elevator to the 5th floor where a Bailiff will direct you as to what to do.

Parking is available in the Colonial Parking Lot adjacent to the courthouse. The facility accepts cash and credit cards for payments. Additional parking is available.

Cellular telephones and other personal electronic devices are allowed in court facilities with restrictions which can be found in the Portable Electronic Devices policy. Members of the public may use their devices in the halls, lobbies and other public areas of the courthouses so long as such use does not disrupt or disturb court business or proceedings.

If you choose to have a lawyer represent you at Traffic Court you may do so. If you donot want a lawyer to represent you, you can choose to represent yourself. (Please note that not all traffic offenses are eligible for Public Defender representation).

If you wish to represented by a private attorney, you should contact and hire a private attorney prior to your appearance date. If you cannot afford an attorney you can interview with the Public Defender to see if you are eligible. You must schedule an interview with the Public Defender's Office at least five working days prior to the date of your appearance to ensure that you can be represented. If the Public Defender does represent you, there is a $50.00 fee for their service.

Please bring all documentation with you, e.g., your notice to appear in court, insurance card, vehicle registration card, driver's license, etc.

If you go to trial and have witnesses you wish to testify on your behalf, please advise them to appear at 1:15 p.m. If you decide to plead to the charge or the charge is dropped, you should have sufficient time to contact them. If you think your witness(es) will not appear on their own, you may subpoena them through a written request to the Clerks Office at least ten (10) days prior to your trial date.

Please plan to spend most of the day at the courthouse. If you take a plea in the morning, it is likely that your case will be resolved before the 1:30 p.m. trial calendar. However, after speaking with the Deputy Attorney General in the morning, if you decide to request a trial, please make sure you are present along with your witnesses at 1:30 p.m. for the trial.

There will be representatives from the Attorney General's Office available to speak with you in the morning about taking a plea.

If you choose not to take the plea offered by the Attorney General's Office at the morning arraignment calendar, your case will proceed to the 1:30 p.m. trial calendar. Police officers and other witnesses are scheduled to be present at that time, but are not required to come to court in the morning.

Witnesses/Police Officers and/or other witnesses for the State are scheduled to appear for the 1:30 p.m. trial calendar only. If the officer does not appear for the trial calendar it may be possible for you to request that your case be dismissed. The judge will make that determination based on information from both sides.

You will be able to set up a payment agreement with the court. Please be aware that in addition to the fine, there are other fees and costs that will be assessed at the time you enter your plea.

There are Spanish Interpreters present at the time of the Traffic Calendar. If you need an interpreter for another language, please contact the court at least seven (7) working days prior to the calendar date so that arrangements can be made.

No small children are permitted in the courtroom. Please make arrangements for child care prior to coming to court as there are no child care facilities in the courthouse.