Find Traffic Court Records in Chester County
Chester County traffic court records are accessible online through two systems: the county's own ChescoPIN portal and the statewide UJS Portal. Chester County operates separate Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts offices at the courthouse in West Chester. Alex Christy serves as Prothonotary and Caroline Bradley serves as Clerk of Courts. Sixteen Magisterial District Judge offices handle traffic citations across the county. You can search Chester County traffic court records by docket number, defendant name, or citation number at no cost through either online system.
Chester County Quick Facts
Searching Chester County Traffic Court Records Online
Chester County offers the ChescoPIN online system for court record access. ChescoPIN provides direct search capability for Chester County dockets, including traffic appeal records at the Court of Common Pleas level. The statewide UJS Portal case search is the other primary option. Both are free to use. ChescoPIN may include additional detail specific to Chester County filings. The UJS Portal is useful if you need to compare Chester County records with dockets from other counties.
For traffic citations at the Magisterial District Judge level, the UJS Portal is the main tool. Chester County has 16 MDJ offices spread across its townships and boroughs. Each MDJ docket is accessible through the portal by defendant name or docket number. Case status, hearing dates, and outcomes are all visible in the search results.
To reach the court offices by phone, call 610-344-6300. The Chester County Prothonotary page covers civil court records and appeal filings. The Chester County Clerk of Courts page covers criminal court records. Both offices are at the Chester County Courthouse in West Chester.
Chester County Court Structure for Traffic Cases
Chester County uses a two-office structure. The Prothonotary handles civil court records, including civil traffic appeals. The Clerk of Courts manages criminal court records, including criminal traffic matters. Alex Christy serves as Chester County Prothonotary. Caroline Bradley serves as Clerk of Courts. Both offices share the same main phone number: 610-344-6300.
Traffic citations in Chester County are filed and heard at the Magisterial District Judge level. Chester County has 16 MDJ offices, which is one of the larger MDJ networks among Pennsylvania counties. This reflects the county's substantial population and geographic spread. Each MDJ office covers specific municipalities. If you received a citation in Chester County, the MDJ office serving that municipality handled or will handle your case. After the MDJ issues a decision, a driver who wants to appeal must file with either the Prothonotary or Clerk of Courts, depending on the nature of the charge.
Under 42 Pa.C.S. Section 1515, Magisterial District Judges in Pennsylvania have original jurisdiction over summary traffic offenses. Chester County MDJ courts operate under that same authority. Appeals from MDJ decisions go to the Chester County Court of Common Pleas.
Note: The ChescoPIN system and UJS Portal cover different portions of Chester County court records, so using both systems gives you the most complete picture.
Chester County Clerk of Courts and Prothonotary
The Chester County Clerk of Courts under Caroline Bradley maintains all criminal court records, including traffic citation appeals that carry criminal classification. This office processes filings, manages dockets, and provides public access to court records during business hours at the Chester County Courthouse in West Chester.
The Chester County Clerk of Courts website shown below is the starting point for criminal record access, including traffic appeals filed with the Court of Common Pleas.
The Clerk of Courts office handles summary appeal filings from MDJ traffic decisions where the original charge was a summary criminal traffic offense. Once an appeal is filed, the case gets a new Court of Common Pleas docket number. That docket is accessible through the UJS Portal and ChescoPIN. All filings, orders, and the final judgment appear on the docket as the case progresses.
| Prothonotary |
Alex Christy Chester County Courthouse West Chester, PA Phone: 610-344-6300 |
|---|---|
| Clerk of Courts |
Caroline Bradley Chester County Courthouse West Chester, PA Phone: 610-344-6300 |
| Online Systems | ChescoPIN and UJS Portal |
| MDJ Offices | 16 Magisterial District Judge offices countywide |
Chester County Traffic Dockets and Public Access
Traffic docket sheets in Chester County are public records. Each docket contains the original charge, any amended charges, hearing dates, continuances, verdicts, and payment records. MDJ-level dockets cover the initial citation proceedings. Court of Common Pleas dockets cover appeals. Both types are searchable through the UJS Portal.
The Pennsylvania Courts website explains the public access framework that applies to all court records in Pennsylvania, including those in Chester County. Traffic records are presumed public unless a court order seals them. Sealing is rare for standard traffic matters. Most Chester County traffic court records remain open to any member of the public who searches for them by name or docket number.
Under 42 Pa.C.S. Section 1302, traffic court jurisdiction in Pennsylvania is defined at the state level. Chester County follows these rules. The Chester County Court of Common Pleas handles de novo appeals from MDJ traffic decisions. The appeal docket starts fresh and creates a new public record separate from the original MDJ docket.
PennDOT and Chester County Traffic Convictions
Traffic convictions from Chester County MDJ courts are reported to PennDOT. The state adds points to your driving record based on the type of violation. Accumulating too many points can trigger mandatory hearings or license suspension. Chester County traffic convictions carry the same weight as those from any other Pennsylvania county under PennDOT's point system.
Use the PennDOT driver record portal to view your current driving record. The portal shows all reported convictions, including those from Chester County. The Pennsylvania Vehicle Code, Title 75, lists all traffic offenses and the point values assigned to each conviction. Chester County drivers are subject to the same statewide point schedule as everyone else.
Nearby Counties
Chester County borders four other Pennsylvania counties. Citations are filed in the county where the stop occurred. Check the citation to confirm the county before searching for records.