Butler County Traffic Court Records

Butler County traffic court records are managed by two separate offices at the Butler County Courthouse. The Prothonotary under Kelly Ferrari handles civil court filings, while the Clerk of Courts under Tammy Thibodeau maintains criminal records including traffic cases. You can search Butler County traffic court records online through the county's civil case portal or through the statewide UJS Web Portal. Both systems are available to the public at no charge for basic searches. Records may also be accessed in person at the courthouse in Butler.

How to Search Butler County Traffic Court Records

Butler County offers an online civil case search tool directly through the county. The Butler County Prothonotary civil case portal lets you look up civil court filings by name or docket number. This tool is maintained by Prothonotary Kelly Ferrari's office and covers civil cases processed at the Butler County Courthouse. Attorneys with e-filing access can also submit documents through this portal.

The screenshot below shows the Butler County Prothonotary civil case portal at civil.co.butler.pa.us. This is the county's own search tool for civil court records.

Using this portal gives you direct access to Butler County civil filings without going through the statewide system. For criminal traffic records, the UJS Portal covers Butler County filings handled by Tammy Thibodeau's Clerk of Courts office.

The UJS Web Portal is the best starting point for searching all Butler County traffic court records in one place. It covers both MDJ-level filings and Court of Common Pleas cases. You can search by defendant name, docket number, or citation number. The search is free. Results show charges, hearing dates, case status, and dispositions.

Butler County Traffic Court Structure

Butler County is part of the 50th Judicial District of Pennsylvania. The Court of Common Pleas is the county's primary trial court. Traffic violations begin at the Magisterial District Judge level. Butler County has several MDJ offices that process citations issued throughout the county. Each MDJ handles cases from their assigned geographic district. First-time hearings, payment processing, and initial dispositions all happen at the MDJ level.

When a driver contests a traffic verdict or wants to appeal, the case moves to the Butler County Court of Common Pleas. This is where the Clerk of Courts office under Tammy Thibodeau takes over record-keeping. Under 42 Pa.C.S. Section 1515, Magisterial District Judges have jurisdiction over summary traffic offenses statewide. Butler County MDJ courts operate under this authority just as MDJ courts do in every other Pennsylvania county.

Appeals at Common Pleas are de novo. The driver gets a fresh hearing before a judge. The Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts offices both play a role depending on the nature of the appeal. Kelly Ferrari's Prothonotary office handles civil matters. Tammy Thibodeau's Clerk of Courts office handles the criminal side. Both maintain records that are open to public inspection at the Butler County Courthouse.

Note: Traffic violations in Butler County are governed by Pennsylvania Vehicle Code, Title 75, which defines offenses and procedures for all 67 counties.

Butler County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts

The two offices at the Butler County Courthouse handle distinct but related functions. Kelly Ferrari's Prothonotary office is the civil court records keeper. Tammy Thibodeau's Clerk of Courts office maintains criminal records. Both offices share the courthouse address in Butler, PA, and both can be reached at 724-284-5214.

The Clerk of Courts is the more relevant office for most traffic court records. Moving violations in Pennsylvania are classified as summary criminal offenses. When these cases are appealed to Common Pleas, the Clerk of Courts maintains the official file. This includes the original citation, docket entries, hearing records, and outcomes. Records from MDJ courts are also viewable through the UJS Portal, but the official Common Pleas file lives in Tammy Thibodeau's office.

Butler County drivers and attorneys can review records in person during business hours. Staff can assist with locating specific cases. Certified copies of court documents are available for a fee. Contact 724-284-5214 to ask about fees, turnaround time, and what types of documents are available for specific cases.

Butler County Traffic Records and PennDOT

Every traffic conviction handled in Butler County is reported to PennDOT. The state records the offense and assigns points to the driver's license. The number of points depends on the type of violation under the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code. Enough points can lead to license warnings, required hearings, or suspension.

You can view your own driving record through the PennDOT driver records portal. This tool shows all traffic convictions reported by Butler County and other Pennsylvania courts. It is a separate system from the court docket. The court docket shows the full legal case. The driving record shows what PennDOT received and how it affected your license.

The Pennsylvania Courts website explains the public access rules that apply to Butler County court records. Traffic dockets are public under Pennsylvania law. Anyone can search and view them through the UJS Portal or in person at the courthouse. Under 42 Pa.C.S. Section 1302, traffic court jurisdiction is defined statewide. Butler County courts operate within this framework for every traffic case they process.

Nearby Counties

Butler County sits in western Pennsylvania and borders several other counties. Traffic cases are filed in the county where the citation was issued. Use the docket number or the issuing officer's location to confirm which county has your record.

View All 67 Counties