Justice Court

TOWN OF SANFORD JUSTICE COURT

Presiding Justices:

Hon. Gary Holdrege       Term Expires: 12/31/2025

Hon. Roger Singleton     Term Expires: 12/31/2024

Court Clerks:

Jennifer Valentine

Rita Conklin, Assistant

Mailing Address:

18 Court St

Deposit, NY 13754

Office: 607-467-2516     Fax: 607-467-2297

Court Office Hours:

In-person Judge’s Hours: Tuesday 9AM – 11AM and Wednesday 3PM – 5PM – excluding holidays

By Phone: Clerk’s Hours: Tuesday and Thursdays 8AM – Noon, Wednesdays 1PM – 5PM

*This is subject to change! The most up-to-date information will be on our VOICEMAIL RECORDING*

Scheduled Pre-trials and Non-Jury Trials: First Friday of the month 9:00am – excluding holidays for Scheduled court cases. The District Attorney and Public Defender will be present. The court will be closed for all inclement weather, and if necessary, your case will be re-scheduled by the court. Court is held in-person, there is NO virtual option. Please contact the Court to schedule all appearances.

If you leave a message on the Court Answering Machine, leave the following in your detailed message:

  • 1) Full Name as stated on your Driver’s License
  • 2) Date of Birth
  • 3) a working Phone Number

 

Court Outside Resources:

District Attorney: 607-778-2198

District Attorney’s Website: www.gobroomecounty.com/da

Public Defender: 607-778-2403

Probation: 607-778-2121

New York State Department of Motor Vehicles: 1-800-call-dmv

Town of Deposit Court: 607-467-3233, 3 Elm St, Deposit, NY 13754

Broome County District Attorney’s Traffic Diversion Program: 607-778-2373

Please NOTE: The Court cannot answer questions regarding Broome County DA’s Traffic Diversion Program. The Court has no part in this program.

Please DO NOT call the Town of Sanford Town Clerk, she is unable to assist in Court matters.

For detailed information regarding how to handle your Court Ticket, visit: gobroomecounty.com/DA

 

FAQs:

Frequently Asked Questions:

How to Answer a Vehicle and Traffic Ticket Infraction

  • IT IS THE OBLIGATION OF THE RECEIVING MOTORIST TO RESPOND TO THE TICKET.
  • There will NOT be a fine listed on your ticket. 
    • Guilty Plea: If you choose to plea guilty, sign “Section A” and submit to the court. Once a plea of guilty (signing “Section A”) has been entered, the Judge will assess a fine and a fine notice will be mailed to you.
      • BE SURE YOUR MAILING ADDRESS IS UP TO DATE ON ALL ITEMS SENT TO THE COURT, AS THE COURT’S RESPONSE WILL BE MAILED TO YOU.
        • IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO UPDATE ANY ADDRESS CHANGES WITH THE COURT. 
      • All surcharges are New York State mandated and cannot be “waived”.
    • Not Guilty Plea: If you choose to plea Not Guilty, submit to the Court by signing “Section B” of the ticket you were issued and mail or drop it off at the court.
      • Before any plea bargains or approvals into the Broome County Traffic Diversion Program are accepted, you must first submit your plea of NOT GUILTY 
      • You may check the box to receive a supporting deposition on a Not Guilty Plea.
        • Supporting Deposition: a more detailed account of the ticket you were issued.
          • If you received an electronically-generated ticket, you may have been given a supporting deposition with the traffic ticket. This will be the second page of the ticket and may be kept for your records. You do not need to request another by checking the box.
  • Please read the entire ticket and carefully follow all instructions. Complete One Section of the right side of the ticket (or back side if you have a handwritten ticket).
    • IF YOUR TICKET IS AN INFRACTION, YOUR FIRST STEP IS TO MAIL IN YOUR TICKET
      • You DO NOT have to appear at this time.
    • IF IT IS A MISDEMEANOR, you MUST appear in-person at the DATE and TIME listed, not before or after.
      • Your personal appearance is REQUIRED by New York State Law.
  • Make a copy for your records and either mail the original to 18 Church St, Deposit, NY 13754 or drop off the original to the court in the drop/mailbox labeled 18 on the parking lot side of the building.
  • IF YOU FAIL TO RESPOND, YOUR LICENSE WILL BE SUSPENDED.
  • Once received by the court and processed, you will receive a letter of instruction by mail.
    • Be sure your Mailing Address is up to date on all items sent to the Court, as the Court’s response will be MAILED to you. It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to update any address changes with the Court.

Methods of Payments

  • Mail payments to 18 Church St, Deposit, NY 13754.
    • Accepted payments by mail:
      • Bank Certified Check made payable to Town of Sanford Court
      • Money Order made payable to Town of Sanford Court
    • DO NOT send CASH in the mail!
    • NO Personal Checks or Electronic payments of any kind will be accepted
    • If you would like a Receipt of Payment, you MUST also mail a self-addressed, stamped envelope with your payment.
  • Pay In-Person at 18 Court St, Deposit, NY 13754
    • Accepted payments in-person:
      • Bank Certified Check made payable to Town of Sanford Court
      • Cash (EXACT amount ONLY – We can NOT make change!)
      • Money Order made payable to Town of Sanford Court
    • NO Personal Checks or Electronic payments of any kind will be accepted

If you have Received a Suspension Notice from the NYS DMV

  • You received a suspension notice from the NYS DMV for one of the following reasons:
    • You Failed to Answer a Ticket
    • You Failed to follow through on handling the ticket
  • Instructions on what to do when you’ve received a suspension notice from the NYS DMV
    • If it is BEFORE your assigned REPLY BY DATE on your Suspension Notice AND you have not pled to your original ticket from your traffic stop:
      • Fill out ONE section of your ticket (either GUILTY or NOT GUILTY)
        • If you no longer have your ticket, the Court must receive your plea IN WRITING
          • Write on a piece of paper: Your Plea (GUILTY or NOT GUILTY), Sign your Letter
      • Mail it to the Court at 18 Church St, Deposit, NY 13754
      • Be sure to INCLUDE the ENTIRE DMV NOTICE.
    • If it is AFTER your assigned REPLY BY DATE on your Suspension Notice
      • You will have to mail a $70 Money Order or Bank Check made payable to: Town of Sanford Court.
        • $70 payment will lift your suspension for 60 DAYS, giving you time to finalize your ticket.
        • Failure to Finalize your ticket after $70 payment may result in a re-suspended license.
    • If you previously entered a Plea of Not Guilty AND you Failed to complete the necessary steps with the District Attorney’s office by the date assigned to you by the Court
      • Contact the District Attorney to complete the process 607-778-2198
      • OR You can CHANGE your plea IN WRITING to the Court
      • This must be done prior to the assigned REPLY BY date on your Suspension Notice.
    • If you would like a Receipt of Payment, please be sure to include a Stamped, Self-Addressed Envelope with the rest of your documents.
  • If your License is for New York State
    • Once the above instructions have been completed by you and they have been received by us
      • The Court immediately processes the Suspension Lift and notifies New York State DMV electronically. It may take NYS DMV up to 2 business days (excluding holidays) to reflect the suspension lift on your driving record.
  • If your License is NOT for New York State
    • Once the above instructions have been completed by you and they have been received by us
      • The Court immediately processes the Suspension Lift and notifies New York State DMV electronically. It may take NYS DMV up to 2 business days (excluding holidays) to reflect the suspension lift on your driving record.
      • NYS DMV will then notify the state in which you have a driver’s license.
      • The Town of Sanford Court IS NOT REQUIRED to Notify ANY DMV OUTSIDE of NYS.
      • If you also require a “Receipt of Proof” for your state’s DMV, it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to provide that to YOUR State’s DMV.
        • If you would like a Receipt of Payment, please be sure to include a Stamped, Self-Addressed Envelope with the rest of your Suspension Notice documents.
  • Once received by the court and processed, you will receive a letter of instruction by mail.
    • Be sure your Mailing Address is up to date on all items sent to the Court, as the Court’s response will be MAILED to you. It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to update any address changes with the Court.
  • PLEASE NOTE: If your license is suspended and the effective date is July 5, 2009 or before, you will be required to pay a Suspension Termination Fee of $35.00 per suspension. For suspensions that went into effect on or after July 6, 2009, the Suspension Termination Fee is $70.00 per suspension. Anything prior to October 1, 2003 will have no additional Suspension Termination Fee.

Who to Contact about Points on your License, about Driver Abstracts, and about Driver Assessment Fees

  • All questions regarding points and/or license status must be directed to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. You can contact the NYS DMV at your local office or go to http://www.dmv.ny.gov
  • If you received a notice from the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles, it is separate from any fines or surcharges paid to the court and is associated with the DMV, NOT the Court.

Small Claims

  • Small Claim cases can be filed at the Court, IN-PERSON on Tuesday or Friday from 9-11AM.
  • The Respondent MUST live in the Town of Sanford. YOU MUST HAVE THEIR EXACT MAILING ADDRESS, Post Office Boxes are NOT acceptable.
    • The amount of the filing can NOT exceed $3,000
  • You may also file Small Claims at the Binghamton City Court if the Respondent lives or works in Broome County.
    • When filed at the City Court the filed amount cannot exceed $5,000
    • The City Court also handles civil and commercial claims.
  • The Court can provide you with a guide to small claims prior to filing. This must be picked up IN-PERSON during open window hours and will not be mailed.
  • The filing fee will be $10 for seeking up to $1,000 in monetary damages or $15 over $1,000 and up to the $3,000 limit.
  • An alternative to filing a small claim is by contacting ACCORD (A Center for Dispute Resolution, Inc)
    • This is a mediator service which is free.
    • In Broome County you can call 607-724-5153, or email them at accord@stny.rr.com

Summary Proceeding (Evictions)

  • The court clerk is not allowed to give paperwork or advice on evictions.
  • Keep in mind there are many timelines, and each step of the eviction process can be tedious. If every step is not taken, you may have to re-file and start over.
    • It is important to note that there are attorneys who specialize in eviction hearings and summary proceedings.
      • They will ensure that all appropriate paperwork and notices are filed and served within required timeframes.
  • If you are looking to start an eviction without the aid of an attorney, go to the following website and follow the directions EXACTLY.
    • www.nycourthelp.gov
    • You will need to file the paperwork with the court clerk at least four weeks before a date is set for the eviction. 
  • The property MUST be located in the Town of Sanford.
  • The filing fee is $20

You Received a Jury Summons

  • Be sure to complete Part “H” on the back of your summons
    • Bring your entire summons to court. 
    • Any questions or excuses can be directed to the Broome County Commissioner of Jurors
    • Refer to your Summons.
  • Be sure to read your entire Jury Summons Notice. 
    • You are to call the court at 607-467-2516 after 5:00 PM the day BEFORE the scheduled trial. 
    • A recording will advice you whether or not you need to report.

You Received a Summons to be a Witness

  • You should contact the Broome County District Attorney’s Office for further information.

Wedding Appointments

  • Town Justices can perform Weddings by appointment, please call the court: 607-467-2516

If you are a Victim of a Violent Crime

  • Report this to the police immediately and contact SOS Shelter Advocacy Office at 1201 Main St, Endicott, NY (across from the UE High School), at 607-748-5174
  • The 24-Hour Crisis Line: 607-754-4340
    • This hotline is for information and referrals to their shelter and/or other services and support. 
  • Crime Victims Assistance Center Advocate Program: 45 Hawley St, Binghamton, NY, 607-778-2423
    • Ask for the Crime Victim Advocate.
  • The 24-Hour Crisis Line: 607-722-4256
    • This hotline is for information and referrals for victims of domestic violence as well as accompaniment to hospitals and law enforcement agencies. 
    • Their website is www.cvac.us
  • The Court CANNOT issue Orders of Protection or Restraining Orders if you have not reported this crime.

You Missed your Court Appearance

  • You should contact the Court or your attorney immediately. Depending on the matter at hand, non-appearances result in one or more of the following: Arrest Warrant, Bench Warrant, Bail Forfeiture, and/or the suspension of your driver’s license/privilege.

Legal Advice

  • THE COURT AND ITS STAFF ARE PROHIBITED TO OFFER ANY LEGAL ADVICE OR RECOMMENDATIONS
  • Please DO NOT call our Town Clerk, she is unable to assist in Court matters.
  • You may find more information by visiting the NYCOURTS website at www.nycourts.gov

Welcome to the Office of the Justice Court.

To contact the court via email, please complete the below form in its entirety. We must be given a working phone number in order to respond to any messages; we are unable to respond via email. Please keep in mind that we are a PART-TIME court, we have very limited office hours, so it may take several days to contact you. Thank you!

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