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Town Justice Courts in the
State of New York handle criminal matters through trial level
(including jury trials when necessary) as well as arraignments
and preliminary hearings on felonies. The Court also hears
vehicle and traffic cases and alleged offenses of violation
level, such as harassment and trespass, which do not rise to
misdemeanor level.
Civil matters and small claims involving no more than $3,000,
(the one exception being a request for back rent in a summary
proceeding as to which there is no jurisdictional limit), are
also heard by the Justice Court.
A variety of matters involving alleged violations of local
(town) laws such as Building or Zoning or Dog Control, as well
as certain County Laws (i.e. matters brought by the Putnam
County Consumer Affairs Department), and on occasion matters
involving various State laws other than Penal and Vehicle and
Traffic; i.e., Agriculture and Markets and Environmental
Conservation Laws come before the Justice Court.
With such a strong local emphasis, it is little wonder that
the Town and Village Courts of the State are justifiable known
as the "People's Court", that is, the Court closest to the
people it serves.
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small claims
($1,000 or less) |
$10.00 |
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small claims
($1,000 or more) |
$15.00 |
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civil cases
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$20.00 |
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| Different
bodies of law prescribe ranges of fines for violations.
However, the State sets mandatory
surcharges for sentences and fines for the vast majority
of laws. |
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