Elk County Traffic Court Records
Elk County traffic court records are held by the combined Prothonotary/Clerk of Courts office at the Elk County Courthouse in Ridgway, Pennsylvania. Elk County is part of the 59th Judicial District, which it shares with Cameron County. Two Magisterial District Judge offices serve Elk County, one in Johnsonburg and one in St. Mary's. Traffic citations begin at the MDJ level and move to the Court of Common Pleas if appealed. You can search Elk County traffic court records for free using the statewide UJS Portal online.
Elk County Quick Facts
How to Search Elk County Traffic Court Records
The UJS Portal case search is the primary tool for finding Elk County traffic court records online. This free statewide system covers both MDJ dockets from Elk County and any Court of Common Pleas traffic appeal records. You can search by defendant name, docket number, or citation number. Results show the full case history including charges, hearing dates, and final outcomes at no cost.
For in-person access or document requests, contact the Elk County Courthouse at 250 Main Street, Ridgway, PA 15853. The court phone is (814) 776-1161. The court administrator can be reached at 814-776-6144. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Elk County 59th Judicial District page has current information on all court services and contact details.
The Pennsylvania Courts website explains public access policies for court records across all 67 Pennsylvania counties, including Elk. Traffic records are presumed public and are available to any person who requests them.
Note: Open records requests in Elk County must use the official Request Form through the Elk County Office of Open Records at 300 Center Street, P.O. Box 448, Ridgway, PA 15853.
Elk County Court Structure for Traffic Cases
Elk County is part of the 59th Judicial District, which it shares with neighboring Cameron County. The Court of Common Pleas for the district is located at the Elk County Courthouse at 250 Main Street in Ridgway. This court has general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters in both counties. Traffic citations in Elk County are first heard by one of the two MDJ offices in the county.
MDJ 59-3-02 is located at 409 G Center Street in Johnsonburg, PA 15845. The phone number there is (814) 965-2663. MDJ 59-3-03 is at 808 S. Michael Street in St. Mary's, PA 15857, and can be reached at (814) 781-6995. Each office handles traffic citations for the municipalities within its jurisdiction. The citation will name the MDJ office with authority over your case based on where the stop occurred. Under 42 Pa.C.S. Section 1515, all MDJ courts in Pennsylvania hold the same authority over summary traffic offenses.
When a driver appeals an MDJ traffic decision, the appeal goes to the Court of Common Pleas at the Elk County Courthouse. The combined Prothonotary/Clerk of Courts office processes the filing and assigns a Court of Common Pleas docket number. The appeal is heard de novo, meaning the case starts over before a Common Pleas judge rather than continuing from where the MDJ left off.
The Elk County 59th Judicial District page shown below is the main starting point for information about the court structure, hours, and services available to the public.
The 59th Judicial District page provides links to forms, contact information, and resources for people handling matters before the Elk County Court of Common Pleas.
Elk County Traffic Records and Open Records Access
Elk County traffic court records are public. Any person can inspect them without providing a reason. The Elk County Office of Open Records handles formal Right-to-Know requests. All open records requests must use Elk County's official Request Form. The Open Records Officer is located at the Elk County Courthouse Annex, 300 Center Street, P.O. Box 448, Ridgway, PA 15853. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The agency response time is five business days.
The Elk County Office of Open Records page shown below provides the forms and procedures for formal records requests.
Photocopying through the Open Records office costs $0.25 per page. Court document copies requested through the Prothonotary/Clerk of Courts office are subject to the court fee schedule. Criminal record searches cost $10.50. Certification of documents costs $10.00. Copies of court papers are $0.50 per page. These fees apply to document reproduction, not to viewing records in person.
Note: Viewing public court records in person at the courthouse does not require a formal open records request and is available during regular business hours.
Elk County Magisterial District Courts
Two MDJ offices serve Elk County traffic cases. MDJ 59-3-02 in Johnsonburg handles citations issued in the northern part of the county. MDJ 59-3-03 in St. Mary's serves the southern and central portions of Elk County. Both offices are part of the 59th Judicial District and follow the same statewide procedures for handling traffic citations.
Traffic dockets from both Elk County MDJ offices are searchable through the UJS Portal. The portal shows all docket entries from the initial filing through the final outcome. The Pennsylvania Court Records page for Elk County also provides information on how to access Elk County court records online. Under 42 Pa.C.S. Section 1302, the jurisdiction of traffic courts in Pennsylvania is defined at the state level, and Elk County MDJ courts operate within that framework.
| Courthouse |
Elk County Courthouse 250 Main Street Ridgway, PA 15853 Phone: (814) 776-1161 |
|---|---|
| Court Administrator | 814-776-6144 | Fax: 814-772-7780 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| MDJ 59-3-02 | 409 G Center Street, Johnsonburg, PA 15845, (814) 965-2663 |
| MDJ 59-3-03 | 808 S. Michael Street, St. Mary's, PA 15857, (814) 781-6995 |
| Online Access | UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us |
PennDOT and Elk County Traffic Convictions
Traffic convictions from either Elk County MDJ office are reported to PennDOT. The state records the conviction on your Pennsylvania driving history and assigns points based on the violation. Points accumulate over time. PennDOT can suspend a license if the total exceeds statutory limits under the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code.
Check your driving record at the PennDOT driver record portal. Elk County convictions appear there after the MDJ submits the result to PennDOT. The Pennsylvania Courts website explains how court records connect to PennDOT reporting under state law. Elk County traffic court convictions carry the same weight statewide as those from any other Pennsylvania county.
Nearby Counties
Elk County shares borders with four other Pennsylvania counties. Traffic citations are filed in the county where the stop occurred. Review your citation to confirm the correct county before you search for records.