Justice Court

The Garden City Justice Court is part of the Unified Court System of the State of New York. It hears all matters involving summonses for parking offenses, building violations, New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law violations and misdemeanors, Tax Law, and other matters New York State has placed under Village jurisdiction.

The Court may impose fines, sentence convicted defendants to imprisonment, or enter into agreements with defendants to perform community service in lieu of traditional sentencing. Our current Village Justice is Honorable Allen S. Mathers and our Associate Village Justices are Honorable Merril S. Biscone and Honorable Peter Menoudakos.

Court is normally in session every week on Monday evening at the courtroom in Village Hall. The Court Clerk's office is open on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to accept payment of fines and to provide information about cases.

Fines may be paid by cash, check, money order, or credit card. Cash and credit card payments must be made in person. Parking tickets and adjudicated traffic tickets could also be paid online.

If you have received a Summons for an infraction of our Village Code, Vehicle and Traffic Laws of the State of New York, you may enter a plea to the summons by mail, with certain exceptions. Below are instructions for answering a traffic ticket:

You may respond to a summons in the following ways:

  • You may appear in person on the Court date written on the Summons and plead guilty or not guilty
  • You may plead guilty by mail
  • You may plead not guilty by mail

Warning: Failure to respond to a summons will result in a warrant for your arrest and may result in the suspension of your driver's license.

If you plead guilty or not guilty by mail before the court date listed on your summons you do not have to appear in court on the court date. If you plead not guilty by mail you will be notified by mail at your address registered with the NYS DMV of the date for a conference with the Village Prosecutor and a Judge.

Personal Appearance

If you appear in person you must do so in the court date listed on your summons. The court does accept cash, certified checks or money orders to pay fines.

Appropriate attire is required.

Pleas of Guilty by Mail

You may plead guilty by mail to most offenses. You may not plead "guilty" by mail and must appear in person if you are charged any with the following:

  • A third speeding offense within the past 18 months
  • Any speeding offense in excess of 55 MPH
  • Speeding in a school zone or passing a stopped school bus
  • Any misdemeanor offense
  • A violation of NYS VTL 319-1, No insurance
  • A violation of NYS VTL 509-1, Unlicensed operation
  • Or where no fine is stated for the offense
  • Or if your plea is not accepted and you are ordered to appear by the judge

Acceptable Proof of Insurance

If you receive a ticket for "no insurance" (VTL 319-1), the only proof of insurance the court will accept is a letter from your insurance company, stating the vehicle in question was insured, with no lapse in coverage, on the date indicated on the summons.

An insurance card will not be accepted as proof of insurance by the court.

A letter from an insurance broker will not be accepted.

To Plead Guilty by Mail

Mail the following items to the Garden City Village Court:

  • Your traffic summons with "Guilty Plea", completed and signed.
  • A stamped, self-addressed envelope for your receipt. If not included, no receipt.
  • If the fine is listed on the front of the Summons, pay that fine. If not, the Court will notify you of the fine by mail.
  • Checks or Money Orders should be made payable to the Garden City Justice Court, in the amount of the fine within the specified time indicated on the Summons.

If you receive a summons for operating an unregistered vehicle, please forward a copy of the valid registration along with the summons to the above court.

To Plead Not Guilty by Mail

Follow the instructions on Part B of your summons.

If you have any questions, you may call 516-742-9886, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.