Find Traffic Court Records in Lackawanna County
Lackawanna County traffic court records are filed and maintained through the 45th Judicial District in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The Clerk of Judicial Records office serves as the official custodian of court documents for the county. Traffic citations are first processed by Magisterial District Courts spread throughout the county. Drivers can search Lackawanna County traffic court records online for free using the UJS Portal or visit the courthouse in Scranton for in-person access. This page covers everything you need to know about finding and reviewing these records.
Lackawanna County Quick Facts
Lackawanna County Court Structure
Lackawanna County operates under the 45th Judicial District of Pennsylvania. The Court of Common Pleas is organized into four main divisions: Civil, Criminal, Family, and Orphans' Court. Each division keeps its own records and has separate staff and locations. Traffic matters begin in the Magisterial District Courts and can be appealed to the Common Pleas Criminal Division.
The Civil Division is located at the Brooks Building, 436 Spruce Street, Scranton, and can be reached at (570) 963-6723. The Criminal Division, which handles traffic conviction appeals, is at 200 North Washington Avenue in Scranton, phone (570) 963-6759. The Family Court Division operates from 200 Adams Avenue, Scranton, at (570) 963-5695. Central Court, MDJ 45-0-00, handles preliminary matters in Scranton. The Pennsylvania Courts website has the full directory of Lackawanna MDJ offices and their jurisdictions.
Note: Lackawanna County also maintains Orphans' Court at 507 Linden Street, Suite 400, Scranton, (570) 963-6702. Each division is separate, so contacting the right one saves time when you look for Lackawanna County traffic court records.
Lackawanna County Clerk of Judicial Records
The Clerk of Judicial Records is the primary record-keeping office for Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas. This function has been maintained continuously since 1878. The current Clerk is Lauren Mailen. The office provides 29 different court forms online, including forms specific to motor vehicle judgment and suspension of motor operating privilege.
The Lackawanna County Clerk of Judicial Records office at lackawannacounty.org offers downloadable forms. These include the Petition for Appeal for Suspension of Motor Operating Privilege, the Certificate of Motor Vehicle Judgment, and the Agreement to Revive. Each form is relevant to drivers dealing with traffic court outcomes in Lackawanna County.
The Clerk's online form library makes it easier to prepare documents before visiting the courthouse. Forms can be downloaded, completed, and then filed in person at the Government Center location.
| Office |
Clerk of Judicial Records Lackawanna County Government Center 123 Wyoming Avenue, 1st Floor Scranton, PA 18503 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (570) 963-6723 |
| Fax | (570) 963-6387 |
| mailenl@lackawannacounty.org | |
| Website | lackawannacounty.org |
Searching Lackawanna County Traffic Court Records Online
The statewide UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us gives free access to Lackawanna County traffic court records. Civil and family court dockets are available online going back to 1995. Documents linked to those dockets are available at no cost starting from the early 2000s. To search, enter the person's name or the docket number. You can filter by county, case type, and date range.
MDJ-level traffic cases appear under the summary docket category in the UJS Portal. These show the original citation details, the hearing result, and any fines or costs imposed. If a driver appealed the MDJ ruling, a separate Common Pleas docket opens in Lackawanna County. Both dockets are viewable through the portal. Docket sheets can be saved or printed from the portal for free. Copies of actual case documents may require a request to the Clerk of Judicial Records office.
Additional information about Lackawanna County traffic records and the court system is available through the Pennsylvania court records resource at pennsylvaniacourtrecords.us.
For records not available online, contact the Clerk of Judicial Records at (570) 963-6723. Staff can search by name or case number and provide paper copies for a fee. Bring a valid ID when visiting the courthouse in Scranton.
Traffic Court Appeals in Lackawanna County
If you disagree with a Magisterial District Judge's ruling in Lackawanna County, you can appeal to the Court of Common Pleas. The appeal must be filed within 30 days of the MDJ sentencing date. Late appeals are not accepted. The appeal goes to the Criminal Division at 200 North Washington Avenue in Scranton.
The appeal process in Lackawanna County follows Pennsylvania Rule 1002 under the Pennsylvania Code and Bulletin. This rule governs the procedure in summary cases, which includes most traffic violations. The case is heard de novo at the Common Pleas level. That means you get a fresh hearing before a judge and can present your full defense. The MDJ's ruling does not automatically carry over.
Under 42 Pa.C.S. Section 1515, Magisterial District Judges have jurisdiction to decide summary traffic cases in Lackawanna County. Their decisions create the records that then appear in the UJS Portal. After a conviction, PennDOT updates the driver's record. An appeal pauses that process until the Common Pleas Court issues its ruling.
Note: Drivers appealing a motor vehicle suspension in Lackawanna County must file specific forms available from the Clerk of Judicial Records office. The Petition for Appeal for Suspension of Motor Operating Privilege is a required document in those cases.
Public Access to Lackawanna County Traffic Records
Traffic court records in Lackawanna County are generally open to the public under Pennsylvania law. The right to view court records comes from the Pennsylvania Rules of Judicial Administration and the Right-to-Know Law. Anyone can view docket sheets without providing a reason or filing a formal request.
The Clerk of Judicial Records office welcomes in-person visitors during courthouse hours. You do not need to be a party to the case to view a traffic record. However, some details may be restricted by court order or under statutory protection, such as certain information about minors or sealed cases. For most Jefferson County traffic records, the full docket and basic case documents are public. Contact the office at (570) 963-6723 to confirm what is available for a specific case before making the trip to Scranton.
The Pennsylvania Courts page at pacourts.us provides official information about the Lackawanna County court system and links to court-related resources.
Cities in Lackawanna County
Scranton is the county seat and largest city in Lackawanna County. Traffic court records for Scranton residents are handled through the same 45th Judicial District court system. The Clerk of Judicial Records office in Scranton serves all municipalities in the county.
Nearby Counties
Lackawanna County borders several counties in northeastern Pennsylvania. Each county has its own court system for traffic cases. If your citation was issued in a different county, contact that county's MDJ office or Clerk of Courts for record access.