Court Sessions: 1st Thursday and 3rd and 4th Wednesday of the Month at 6:30 p.m.
Judge: The Honorable Russel B. Teschon J.M.C.
Prosecutor: Mark R. DiMaria, Esquire
Public Defender: Robert A. Fortunato, Esquire
Click here for detailed driving directions.
Para ver página en español oprima aqui.
Log on to New Jersey Municipal Court Direct Website www.njmcdirect.com to:
• View your Summons
• Pay on line (if court appearance not mandatory)
• View Motor Vehicle Commission points
• Obtain directions to court
New Neighbors
If you have recently moved into the Township or have new neighbors, please let them know that you cannot park on any street in Wyckoff between the hours of 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.
Recent Legislation
39:3-29 Failure to possess or exhibit driver's license or registration
Effective Date: August 15, 2003
Fine: $ 156.00
Costs: $ 24.00
39:4-1380 Handicapped Parking (Mandatory Court Appearance)
Effective Date: October 1, 2003
First Offense: $250.00 Fine
Second Offense: $250.00 Fine plus maximum 90 days Community Service
39:4-97.3 Wireless Telephones
Effective Date: March 1, 2008
On effective date, it will be a primary motor vehicle offense to use a hand-held wireless telephone or electronic communication device while driving, including using these devices to send a text message. A person who violates this law shall be fined no less than $100. No motor vehicle points shall be assessed for this offense.
A motor vehicle operator may use a hand-held wireless telephone while driving only if:
Have Any Questions?
The Court must remain impartial and cannot give you legal advice, but we will try to answer any questions you have about your case or any matters within our jurisdiction.
Q. What type of cases are heard in Wyckoff?
A. The Wyckoff Municipal Court has jurisdiction over the following cases:
• Motor Vehicle/Traffic Violations
• Disorderly/Petty Disorderly Persons Offenses
• Violations of Weights and Measures
• Parks and Forests
• Fish and Game
• Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
• Violations of Municipal Ordinances of Wyckoff
If you are charged with a more serious offense, these "indictables" would be sent to the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office. The case would either be brought before a Grand Jury in Superior Court or downgraded to the Wyckoff Municipal Court by the Prosecutor.
Q. What do I do if I receive a summons?
A. Many traffic and parking offenses are payable by mail, online or at the Violation Bureau if they do not have "court appearance required" marked on the summons. You may complete the Appearance, Plea and Waiver section on the back of the summons and make your payment by mail, or in person. By doing this, you are waiving your right to a trial and pleading guilty. Call the Violation Bureau if you do not see the amount to be paid on the back of the summons.
Traffic tickets that do not require a court appearance may now be paid (with a major credit card) online at the New Jersey Municipal Court Direct website.
This web site provides convenient access to statewide municipal court records, court directions and hours. By entering the information requested on the site, your ticket will appear, as well as any points involved, the amount of the fine and any court dates scheduled. If you pay on line, there is a fee, which is utilized by the State of New Jersey to expand and improve the web site program.
Not all tickets are payable online. Some have mandatory court appearances, such as driving while intoxicated or revoked. You also have a right to plead not guilty to any ticket. If there are points involved or you wish to plead not guilty, you may contact court personnel at the Wyckoff Violation Bureau, 201-891-7000, Extension 110 or 111, in order to schedule a court date.
All criminal matters are not payable and must be heard before the Judge in court. If you would like to plead not guilty to a summons, telephone or write to the Violations Bureau at least a week prior to the court date listed on the summons. Again, please note this must be done by telephone or in person, it cannot be done via the web site or email. You may represent yourself or have an attorney represent you. If you cannot afford an attorney and you face a consequence of magnitude (a substantial fine, loss of driving privileges or incarceration), a Public Defender application may be filled out at your first court appearance for the Judge to review. If an interpreter is needed, one will be provided by the court. The court is unable to recommend attorneys but will provide you with the number of Bergen County Legal Services. They will assist you if you need a recommendation. Please do not hesitate to call the Violation Bureau if you have any questions or are unsure as to how to proceed.
Q. How can the court staff assist me?
A. The Court Administrator and Deputy Court Administrator must remain impartial to all parties involved in a case. The following is a list of what the court staff can and cannot do for you. We will try to answer any questions you have about your case or any matters within our jurisdiction:
We can:
We cannot:
Q. How do I obtain a municipal court record?
A. Your local Municipal Court Violations Bureau will provide you with a N.J. Judiciary Records Request Form and answer any questions you may have.
The Open Public Records Act (OPRA), is not applicable to the Judiciary branch of government. The Courts are guided by Court Rule 1:38.
There are exemptions from disclosure by law, rule or court order. Some examples would include the location of a domestic violence victim, the name of a child victim of sexual abuse or expunged records.
Q. I received a summons for parking too close to a stop sign. How close is too close?
A. Many people have expressed surprise when receiving a summons for violation of this state statute. Please be aware that it is improper to park in, among others, the following locations:
• Within 50 feet of stop sign
• Within an intersection
• On a crosswalk
• In front of a driveway
• Within 25 feet of crosswalk
• Within 10 feet of fire hydrant
• Within 20 feet of driveway entrance to fire station
• Within 50 feet of nearest rail of railroad crossing
Q. My friend had an active warrant for his arrest for a seatbelt ticket. Is this possible?
A. Yes, if your friend did not respond to the Violation Bureau by the court date listed on the ticket. When you receive a ticket, you should either call the Violation Bureau to plead not guilty or pay it by the court date listed on the ticket. When the court date passes and no response is received from the defendant, a second court date is given to respond. This is called the failure to appear date or FTA. If there is no response by the FTA date, then a warrant will be issued. The defendant will then have to post bail and can either request that it be applied to the fine or enter a not guilty plea, in which case the bail will be held by the court until the disposition of the case.
Q. What's the difference between careless and reckless driving?
A. Statute 39:4-96 describes reckless driving as a person who drives a vehicle heedlessly, in a willful or wanton disregard of the rights or safety of others, in a manner so as to endanger, or be likely to endanger a person or property. If convicted, a defendant can receive imprisonment in the county or municipal jail for a period of not more than 60 days, or receive a fine of not less than $50.00 or more than $200.00, or both. The defendant would also receive five motor vehicle points.
Statute 39:4-97 describes careless driving as a person who drives a vehicle carelessly, or without due caution and circumspection, in a manner so as to endanger, or be likely to endanger, a person or property. If convicted, a defendant would receive two motor vehicle points.
Q. When must snow be removed from the sidewalks after a storm?
A. Wyckoff Ordinance No. 165-1 states:
"The owner or owners, tenant or tenants of any land abutting upon the public streets of the Township of Wyckoff shall remove all snow and ice from the abutting sidewalks of such public streets within twelve (12) hours of daylight after the same shall fall or be formed thereon.
The penalty for a first violation of this ordinance is $40.00, payable at the Violations Office, Wyckoff Town Hall, Monday - Friday, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. A second violation would require a court appearance.
Q. Is there a law about clearing ice from your car roof?
A. Title 39:4-77.1 states that when snow or ice is dislodged from a moving vehicle and strikes another vehicle or pedestrian causing injury or property damage, the following penalties shall apply:
The operator of a non-commercial motor vehicle shall be subject to a fine of not less than $200 or more than $1,000 for each offense.
The operator, owner, lessee, bailee or any one of the aforesaid of a commercial motor vehicle shall be subject to a fine of not less than $500 or more than $1,500 for each offense.
No motor vehicle points or automobile insurance eligibility points shall be assessed for this offense, however any violation of this law requires an appearance in Court.
PLEASE NOTE THAT ANY REQUESTS FOR ADJOURNMENTS CANNOT BE PROCESSED VIA THIS WEB SITE OR E-MAIL. YOU MUST TELEPHONE OR WRITE TO THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR SO THAT A NEW TRIAL DATE CAN BE SCHEDULED.