The Kearny Municipal Court and Violations Bureau are located at 404 Kearny Avenue, 3 rd Fl., Kearny, NJ 07032. Our telephone numbers are (201) 955-7410 and (201) 955-7411. Our fax number is (201) 997-1980. Our business hours are 8:30AM to 4:00PM, Monday to Friday.
The Court Clerk's e-mail address is: nwaller@kearny.org
Traffic and Criminal complaints are accepted for filing Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday (not Thursday) from 9:30AM to 2:00PM. Court is in session every Thursday at 9:00AM and two Monday evenings at 5:00PM each month. One Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) session is scheduled each month. Complementary Dispute Resolution Mediation hearings are scheduled on Wednesdays at 10:00AM. The Kearny Municipal Court has jurisdiction in the following matters:
- Motor Vehicle/Traffic Violations
- Disorderly/Petty Disorderly Persons Offenses
- Violations of Weights and Measures
- Fish, Game and Wildlife violations
- Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) violations
- Violations of Municipal Ordinances of Kearny
If you are charged with a more serious offense, these “indictable” offenses will be sent to the Central Judicial Processing Court located in Jersey City. The case will either be brought before a Grand Jury in Superior Court or downgraded and returned to be heard in the Kearny Municipal Court.
Many traffic and parking offenses are payable by mail or at the Violations Bureau if the “court appearance required” box on the summons is not marked. Checks and money orders should be made payable to the “Kearny Municipal Court” and mailed in sufficient time to reach the Violations Bureau in advance of the due date. A $10.00 penalty is assessed for late payments. A credit card payment option is available by logging on to www.njmcdirect.com. Click on “Pay your traffic ticket online” and follow the prompts. Payment of your traffic summons is a waiver of your right to a trial and indicates a “guilty” plea. Points and surcharges will be assessed by the N.J. Motor Vehicle Commission for certain moving violations. Call the Violations Bureau for information about fine amounts not indicated on the back of the summons.
If you wish to plead “not guilty” to a summons, you must call or write the Court at least one week before the court appearance date on the summons. Your matter will be scheduled for a future court date. Plan on being in court for several hours on your trial date.
You may represent yourself or have an attorney represent you. If you cannot afford an attorney and you face a consequence of magnitude such as a substantial fine, loss of driving privileges or incarceration you may be eligible for representation by a Public Defender. An application for representation may be completed at your first court appearance. The Judge will review your application. There is a $50.00 application fee. The Court is unable to recommend an attorney, but will provide the telephone number of the Hudson County Lawyers Referral Service.
Links: The State of New Jersey Municipal Court Services
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