Access Erie County Traffic Court Records

Erie County traffic court records are maintained by the Clerk of Records at the Erie County Courthouse at 140 West Sixth Street in Erie, Pennsylvania. Aubrea Hagerty-Haynes was elected Clerk of Records in 2021 and oversees a combined office that handles Clerk of Courts, Prothonotary, Recorder of Deeds, and other court record functions. The Erie County Court of Common Pleas is the 6th Judicial District and operates with a nine-judge trial court. You can search Erie County traffic court records through the UJS Portal or the county's CourtPro case management system online.

How to Search Erie County Traffic Court Records

The UJS Portal case search is the main free tool for finding Erie County traffic court records online. Search by defendant name, docket number, or citation number to find MDJ-level traffic dockets and Court of Common Pleas appeal records. Results show charges, hearing dates, case status, and final outcomes at no charge.

Erie County has also implemented the CourtPro case management system as of April 15, 2024. This replaced the former INFOCON system that was discontinued after April 12, 2024. CourtPro handles civil record management through the Prothonotary function. For information on the current system and how to access records through it, visit the Erie County Courts website. The courts site covers all divisions and services at the Erie County Courthouse.

To visit in person or reach the court offices by phone, go to the Erie County Courthouse at 140 West Sixth Street in Erie. The Clerk of Courts office for criminal records is in Room 103. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. President Judge John J. Mead leads the Court of Common Pleas for the 6th Judicial District.

Note: The INFOCON system for civil records access was replaced by CourtPro in April 2024. If you have questions about accessing civil records online, contact the Prothonotary division of the Clerk of Records office directly.

Erie County Court Structure for Traffic Cases

Erie County is the 6th Judicial District of Pennsylvania. The Court of Common Pleas has a nine-judge trial court with general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters. Traffic citations in Erie County are heard first at the Magisterial District Judge level. Multiple MDJ offices are located across the county. Each MDJ office handles traffic citations for the municipalities within its jurisdiction. After the MDJ issues a decision, a driver who wants to challenge the outcome can appeal to the Court of Common Pleas.

The Clerk of Records office, led by Aubrea Hagerty-Haynes, handles all court record functions in Erie County. This combined office performs the duties of the Clerk of Courts, Prothonotary, Recorder of Deeds, Register of Wills, and Clerk of Orphans' Court. For traffic purposes, the Clerk of Courts function within this office handles summary appeals from MDJ decisions. Under 42 Pa.C.S. Section 1515, Magisterial District Judges throughout Pennsylvania have original jurisdiction over summary traffic offenses. Erie County MDJ courts operate under this same authority.

Technology upgrades at the Erie County Clerk of Records office include e-recording and e-filing capabilities. The CourtPro system became the new case management platform for civil records in April 2024. Criminal records are managed through the Clerk of Courts function within the same combined office structure.

The Erie County Courts website provides direct links to all divisions, including the Clerk of Records, and explains how to access Erie County traffic court records through available online systems.

Erie County Clerk of Records and Traffic Appeals

Aubrea Hagerty-Haynes serves as the Erie County Clerk of Records. The office accepts and processes summary traffic appeals from MDJ decisions. Filing a summary traffic appeal costs $43.50, which is non-refundable. If you want to take a direct appeal to the Superior Court, the fee is $43.50 plus a $91.25 Superior Court fee. Criminal record searches through the Clerk of Courts function cost $10.00 per search.

The Clerk of Courts function of the combined office is the primary contact point for traffic appeal filings in Erie County. When a driver files a summary appeal, the office assigns a Court of Common Pleas docket number. All subsequent filings on that appeal are added to the docket. The Clerk of Records main page covers the full range of combined office services and provides access to forms needed for various court filings.

The Clerk of Records office also handles bail bond acceptance. The fee for posting bail is the amount of the bond plus a $16.50 filing fee. For traffic matters that involve bail, this office processes those filings as well.

Erie County Traffic Dockets and Public Access

Erie County traffic dockets at both the MDJ and Common Pleas level are public records. Each docket shows the original charge, all hearing dates, any continuances, the final outcome, and fee or payment records. MDJ dockets cover the initial citation proceedings. Common Pleas appeal dockets cover cases that were appealed after an MDJ decision.

Both types of Erie County traffic court records are searchable through the UJS Portal. The portal is free and does not require an account. Under 42 Pa.C.S. Section 1302, traffic court jurisdiction in Pennsylvania is defined at the state level. The Pennsylvania Vehicle Code, Title 75, defines the traffic offenses that appear on Erie County dockets and the penalties courts may impose.

The Pennsylvania Courts website also explains the statewide framework for public access to court records. Erie County courts follow these standards. Traffic records are presumed public unless a court order seals them. Standard traffic citation records in Erie County remain open to public inspection.

PennDOT and Erie County Traffic Convictions

All traffic convictions from Erie 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 triggers warnings, mandatory driver improvement courses, or license suspension. Erie County traffic court convictions carry the same weight statewide as those from any other Pennsylvania county under PennDOT's point system.

You can check your current Pennsylvania driving record at the PennDOT driver record portal. Erie County convictions appear there after the MDJ reports the outcome to PennDOT. County Executive Christine Vogel and the Erie County government work alongside the court system to ensure proper administration of all local court functions, including those related to traffic matters.

Cities in Erie County

Erie is the county seat and the largest city in Erie County. Traffic cases from the city of Erie go through the same MDJ and Court of Common Pleas process as all other Erie County traffic citations.

Erie City is served by multiple MDJ offices within the county court system. All traffic cases from Erie, regardless of which MDJ handles them, are subject to the same appeal process at the Erie County Court of Common Pleas.

Nearby Counties

Erie County borders three other Pennsylvania counties. Traffic citations are filed in the county where the stop occurred. Check your citation to confirm which county holds jurisdiction before searching for records.

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