Allentown Traffic Court Records
Allentown traffic court records are processed through Magisterial District Courts in Lehigh County. Allentown is the largest city in Lehigh County and the third-largest city in Pennsylvania. Traffic citations issued within Allentown city limits go to the MDJ office that covers that geographic area. For appeals or more serious matters, the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas at 455 W. Hamilton Street serves as the higher court. This page explains how to search Allentown traffic court records and what resources are available.
Allentown Traffic Court Quick Facts
How Allentown Traffic Court Records Work
Allentown is served by multiple Magisterial District Courts within Lehigh County. There are 14 Magisterial District Courts in Lehigh County total. When Allentown police issue a traffic citation, that citation goes to the MDJ office whose district covers the location where the stop occurred. Each MDJ handles traffic citations, summary offenses, and civil claims up to $12,000 for their district.
The Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas at 455 W. Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA 18101, handles appeals from MDJ traffic decisions. Court Administration can be reached at (610) 782-3014. President Judge Douglas G. Reichley oversees the court. Appeals from a Magisterial District Court traffic ruling must be filed at the Court of Common Pleas.
| County Court | Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas |
|---|---|
| Address | 455 W. Hamilton Street Allentown, PA 18101 |
| Court Administration | (610) 782-3014 |
| Traffic Court Level | Magisterial District Courts (MDJs) |
| Website | lccpa.org |
Allentown Police issue traffic citations to drivers within the city. Those citations are filed with the appropriate Magisterial District Court. The Allentown Police Department information page at allentownpa.gov/Police provides contact details and information about how citations are handled for offenses that occur in Allentown.
Note: Allentown traffic violations go to the MDJ office covering the location of the stop, not a single central traffic court. Use the UJS Portal to find which court holds your specific Allentown traffic case records.
Searching Allentown Traffic Court Records
The fastest way to search Allentown traffic court records is through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Portal. Go to ujsportal.pacourts.us and select the Magisterial District Court category. Enter a defendant name, citation number, or docket number to find Allentown traffic cases. The portal shows case status, hearing dates, and filing information at no cost. This system covers all MDJ courts in Lehigh County that serve Allentown.
In-person searches are another option. You can visit the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas at 455 W. Hamilton Street, Allentown, to review traffic records that have been appealed to that level. For cases still at the MDJ level, you would go to the specific MDJ office that handled the case. The Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas staff can help direct you to the right office when you call (610) 782-3014.
PAePay is available for online payment of Allentown traffic fines. After you search for your case through the UJS Portal, the system may offer a payment option for open balances. This state-wide system works for citations across all Lehigh County MDJ courts serving Allentown.
Allentown Traffic Court Resources
The Lehigh County self-help page on Magisterial District Court covers how traffic citations are handled in MDJ courts serving Allentown, including how appeals work and what to expect at a hearing.
This resource from the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas explains the MDJ process for traffic citations in Allentown and how to file an appeal if you disagree with a ruling.
The Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas website at lccpa.org provides court news, judge information, and resources for people with Allentown traffic cases that have reached the appellate level.
The Lehigh County court site covers all divisions of the court, including how records are kept and how to access them for Allentown traffic matters.
The Allentown Police Department page at allentownpa.gov shows how citations are issued within city limits and how those citations connect to the MDJ court system for Allentown traffic cases.
Allentown Police issue citations for traffic violations within city limits, and those citations are filed with the MDJ office covering the area where the stop occurred.
Allentown Traffic Citation Appeals
If an MDJ rules against you in an Allentown traffic case, you can appeal to the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas. The appeal must be filed within 30 days of the MDJ's decision. Appeals from MDJ courts are heard de novo at the Court of Common Pleas. That means the case is heard fresh, and you present your evidence again at the higher court level.
Filing an appeal creates a new record at the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas. That record becomes part of the public court files at 455 W. Hamilton Street, Allentown. You can search those appellate records through the UJS Portal or by visiting the court in person. Court Administration at (610) 782-3014 can answer questions about the appeal process for Allentown traffic violations before you file.
PAePay at ujsportal.pacourts.us lets you pay Allentown traffic fines online even after an MDJ decision. If you plan to appeal, do not pay the fine before filing because payment can be seen as acceptance of the outcome. Check with the court before taking any action if you are considering an appeal of your Allentown traffic citation.
Magisterial District Courts Serving Allentown
Lehigh County has 14 Magisterial District Courts. Several of those MDJ offices cover parts of Allentown. Each MDJ handles traffic citations for the geographic district assigned to that judge. When Allentown police issue a citation, it goes to the MDJ whose district includes the location of the traffic stop. This is different from how a single centralized traffic court would work.
MDJ courts handle summary traffic offenses, which are the most common type of traffic violation in Pennsylvania. These include speeding, running red lights, and other moving violations. More serious traffic matters, such as driving under the influence, can move to the Court of Common Pleas. For summary violations in Allentown, the MDJ court is the starting point for all proceedings and records.
You can find which MDJ covers a specific Allentown address using the district court locator tool through the Pennsylvania Courts website at pacourts.us. Once you know the MDJ number, you can search for Allentown traffic court records specific to that district through the UJS Portal.
Note: All Allentown MDJ traffic records are searchable through the unified portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us. You do not need to know the specific MDJ number to search by defendant name or citation number for Allentown traffic cases.
Lehigh County Traffic Court Records
Allentown is the county seat of Lehigh County. The county court system covers traffic cases from across all of Lehigh County, not just Allentown. The Lehigh County page has more detail on the full court structure, all MDJ offices, and how to access traffic court records throughout the county.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Cities near Allentown have their own local traffic courts. Select a city below to look up traffic court records in that area.