Lancaster City Traffic Court Records
Lancaster traffic court records are filed and maintained through the 2nd Judicial District in Lancaster County. Lancaster city is the county seat of Lancaster County and sits at the center of its court system. Traffic citations issued in Lancaster are handled by Magisterial District Judge offices, with appeals going to the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas at 50 North Duke Street. You can search Lancaster traffic court records through the Pennsylvania UJS Portal at no cost. This page covers the court structure, how to find Lancaster traffic cases online, and how to request copies of those records.
Lancaster Traffic Court Quick Facts
Lancaster County Court Structure for Traffic Cases
Lancaster city traffic citations are processed through the Magisterial District Judge system. The Lancaster County Courts operate as the 2nd Judicial District of Pennsylvania. The Court of Common Pleas at 50 North Duke Street, Lancaster, PA is the appellate court for MDJ traffic decisions in the city and county. The courthouse is open on regular business days and houses the Clerk of Courts and Prothonotary offices that manage Lancaster traffic court records.
Nicky Woods serves as the Clerk of Courts for Lancaster County. This office maintains criminal court records, including traffic citation appeals processed at the Common Pleas level. Andrew Spade serves as the Prothonotary, handling civil court records and civil traffic matters. Both offices are located at the courthouse at 50 North Duke Street in Lancaster. Multiple MDJ offices serve Lancaster city and the surrounding county communities, with each MDJ district covering a defined geographic area.
| Court | Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas |
|---|---|
| Judicial District | 2nd Judicial District |
| Courthouse Address | 50 North Duke Street, Lancaster, PA |
| Clerk of Courts | Nicky Woods |
| Prothonotary | Andrew Spade |
| Traffic Court Level | Magisterial District Courts |
The Lancaster County Clerk of Courts page provides details on summary appeal procedures, how criminal traffic records are maintained, and how to access Lancaster traffic court records through the county system. Summary appeals from MDJ decisions are processed through this office. The Clerk of Courts assigns a new Common Pleas docket number when an appeal is filed from a Lancaster city traffic citation.
Note: Lancaster city traffic citations are filed at the MDJ level. The Clerk of Courts handles appeals. The Prothonotary manages civil traffic matters. Both are at 50 North Duke Street in Lancaster, PA.
Search Lancaster Traffic Court Records Online
The Pennsylvania UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us is the free public tool for finding Lancaster traffic court records. Search by party name, docket number, or citation number to find any Lancaster County traffic case. The portal shows the MDJ office, the charge type, hearing date, and current case status. No login or fee is required. This covers both active Lancaster traffic cases and closed ones going back many years.
The UJS Case Search at ujsportal.pacourts.us/CaseSearch gives direct access to Lancaster County traffic dockets. Enter a docket number to pull up the specific case record for a Lancaster traffic citation. The results show the assigned judge, the hearing schedule, payment status for open fines, and the case disposition once the matter is resolved. Both MDJ dockets and Common Pleas appeals are searchable through this tool.
For records not available through the online portal, the Lancaster County Clerk of Courts and Prothonotary handle in-person and mail requests. Online access through the UJS Portal is free and covers the vast majority of public Lancaster traffic court cases. Always start there before contacting the courthouse directly.
Lancaster Traffic Court Record Resources
The Lancaster County Courts website provides information on the 2nd Judicial District structure, court offices, and how to access Lancaster traffic court records through the courthouse at 50 North Duke Street.
This screenshot shows the Lancaster County Courts homepage, which links to court offices including the Clerk of Courts and Prothonotary that maintain Lancaster traffic court records.
The Lancaster County Clerk of Courts page covers appeal procedures, criminal traffic record access, and how to contact Nicky Woods' office for Lancaster traffic court filings and case copies.
This page provides direct information on summary appeal filing and criminal traffic records access through the Lancaster County Clerk of Courts at the courthouse on North Duke Street.
In-Person Lancaster Traffic Records Access
The Lancaster County Courthouse at 50 North Duke Street is the primary location for in-person access to Lancaster traffic court records. The Clerk of Courts office handles criminal traffic records and appeal filings. The Prothonotary manages civil traffic matters. Both offices are in the same courthouse. Bring a valid photo ID and the case name or docket number when you visit. Staff can help locate Lancaster traffic cases using that information.
For citations still at the MDJ level, contact the specific MDJ office shown on your citation or found through the UJS Portal. MDJ offices are separate from the courthouse and serve defined geographic districts within Lancaster city and the county. The Pennsylvania Courts website includes a district locator tool for finding the MDJ office associated with any Lancaster County address. Knowing the right office before your visit saves a trip.
Copies of Lancaster traffic court records are available through both offices. The fee schedule for copies varies by document type. Call the courthouse before your visit to confirm current hours and copy fees. Lancaster County court offices are generally open Monday through Friday during regular business hours and are closed on state holidays.
Lancaster Traffic Citation Appeals
If a Magisterial District Judge rules against you on a Lancaster traffic citation, you can appeal to the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas. File the appeal within 30 days of the MDJ decision. The Clerk of Courts office, led by Nicky Woods, processes that filing and assigns a Common Pleas docket number. After that 30-day window, the right to appeal is typically lost and the MDJ ruling stands as final.
Lancaster County Common Pleas appeals are de novo. Both sides present their evidence and arguments fresh. The court does not review the MDJ's reasoning; it considers the case independently. Pennsylvania traffic law governing minor court jurisdiction is found at 42 Pa.C.S. Section 1302. The related provision at 42 Pa.C.S. Section 1515 covers magisterial court authority over summary traffic offenses. Both statutes are relevant to Lancaster traffic citation proceedings.
The broader set of Pennsylvania Vehicle Code statutes is accessible through the Westlaw Pennsylvania Statutes resource. Reviewing those provisions before your Lancaster traffic appeal helps you understand the framework the Common Pleas court will apply when hearing your case.
Paying Lancaster Traffic Court Fines
Traffic fines for Lancaster citations can often be paid online through the PAePay system. Search your case at ujsportal.pacourts.us/CaseSearch first to see whether online payment is available. When it is, PAePay accepts major credit and debit cards. Payments process quickly and you receive a confirmation number at the end. Save that number as proof of payment for your Lancaster traffic citation. Online payment is available for both MDJ-level and some Common Pleas cases in Lancaster County.
In-person payment is also available at the MDJ office that handled your citation or at the Lancaster County Courthouse on North Duke Street. Bring your citation number or docket number when you visit. Staff can confirm the balance and process your payment on the spot. Confirming the right office before going saves time since MDJ offices and the courthouse serve different stages of the Lancaster traffic court process.
- Online payment: PAePay at ujsportal.pacourts.us/CaseSearch
- In-person: MDJ office or Lancaster County Courthouse, 50 North Duke Street
- Clerk of Courts: Nicky Woods
- Prothonotary: Andrew Spade
- PennDOT driver record: appsca.pwp.pa.gov/idr
Note: Check your PennDOT driver record after a Lancaster traffic case closes to confirm how the outcome was reported and whether any points or suspensions were applied to your license.
Lancaster County Traffic Court Records
Lancaster city traffic cases are part of the broader Lancaster County court system. The county page covers the full 2nd Judicial District structure, all MDJ offices, the Clerk of Courts, the Prothonotary, and resources for finding traffic court records across the county.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Other cities near Lancaster have their own traffic court systems. Select a city to find traffic court record information for that area.