Traffic Court Records in Lehigh County
Lehigh County traffic court records are part of the 31st Judicial District based in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Fourteen Magisterial District Courts spread across the county handle all traffic citations filed in Lehigh. The county seat is Allentown, the largest city in the Lehigh Valley. Records from all MDJ courts in Lehigh County are searchable online through the UJS Web Portal at no cost. You can look up traffic cases by defendant name, docket number, or citation number.
Lehigh County Quick Facts
Searching Lehigh County Traffic Court Records
The statewide UJS Portal case search is the primary tool for looking up Lehigh County traffic court records online. It is free and covers all 14 Magisterial District Courts in the county. Search results include the docket number, defendant name, charge description, hearing date, and disposition. You can also view case payment status and look at related summary offense filings.
For in-person access, go to the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas at 455 W. Hamilton Street in Allentown. The Clerk of Judicial Records office is in Room 122. The phone number is 610-782-3150. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Court Administration can be reached at 610-782-3014. The Clerk of Judicial Records is Michelle Graupner.
Magisterial District Courts in Lehigh County are not courts of record. Cases heard at the MDJ level do not have official court reporters. If you need a transcript of a Common Pleas traffic appeal proceeding, contact the Clerk of Judicial Records for transcript procedures.
Note: Appeals from MDJ decisions must be filed with the Clerk of Judicial Records within 30 days of the MDJ's final order.
Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas Traffic Records
The Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas is the main trial court for the 31st Judicial District. It has Civil, Criminal, Family, and Orphans' Court divisions. President Judge Douglas G. Reichley leads the court. Court Administration is managed by District Court Administrator Kerry R. Turtzo and Deputy Administrator Stephanie L. Szabo.
The Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas website provides information on all court divisions and services. Traffic appeals from any of the 14 MDJ courts in Lehigh County are filed at the Court of Common Pleas. The new hearing is a de novo proceeding. The case starts fresh before a Common Pleas judge, and all evidence is presented again. Under 42 Pa.C.S. Section 1302, the scope of traffic court jurisdiction is set at the state level, and Lehigh County follows those rules.
The Court of Common Pleas is a court of record. Proceedings are transcribed by official court reporters. Records from Common Pleas traffic appeal cases are maintained by the Clerk of Judicial Records at 455 W. Hamilton Street, Room 122.
Allentown and Lehigh County Traffic Cases
Allentown is the county seat and the largest city in Lehigh County. It is home to several of the 14 Magisterial District Courts that serve the county. Traffic citations issued within Allentown city limits are handled by the MDJ courts located there. The Allentown Municipal Court handles certain city-level matters, but most traffic violations go through the state Magisterial District Court system.
The Lehigh County court records page provides a breakdown of the court structure and how to access records. MDJ courts are not courts of record, meaning they do not create transcripts. Appeals to Common Pleas are full hearings. Cases that involve amounts under $50,000 may first go to an arbitration panel before reaching a judge.
Residents of Allentown can also access traffic records through the city page at Allentown Traffic Court Records, which covers city-specific details for traffic cases in that municipality.
Note: Arbitration may apply to civil matters brought alongside traffic appeals in Lehigh County Common Pleas Court.
Lehigh County Court Administration and Record Access
The Lehigh County Court Administration page explains the structure of court oversight in the 31st Judicial District. Court Administration at 610-782-3014 supervises all court-related departments including the Clerk of Judicial Records. They also coordinate with the 14 Magisterial District Courts across the county.
| Court of Common Pleas |
455 W. Hamilton Street Allentown, PA 18101 Phone: 610-782-3000 |
|---|---|
| Clerk of Judicial Records |
Room 122, 455 W. Hamilton Street Allentown, PA 18101 Phone: 610-782-3150 |
| Court Administration | Phone: 610-782-3014 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Online Search | ujsportal.pacourts.us |
Lehigh County Traffic Records and PennDOT Reporting
All traffic convictions in Lehigh County are sent to PennDOT. The state assigns points based on the type of violation. Drivers with high point totals face mandatory hearings or license suspension. This applies to every conviction from any of the 14 Magisterial District Courts in Lehigh County.
Check your driving record at the PennDOT driver records portal. This shows all reported convictions from Lehigh County and every other Pennsylvania county. Under 42 Pa.C.S. Section 1515, Magisterial District Judge jurisdiction is defined statewide. Lehigh County MDJ courts follow those rules when processing and reporting traffic offenses. The Pennsylvania Courts website provides additional background on how the Unified Judicial System handles traffic cases across all 67 counties. The Pennsylvania Vehicle Code, Title 75, defines the violations that show up on Lehigh County traffic dockets.
Cities in Lehigh County
Lehigh County includes Allentown and several other municipalities. Traffic citations issued anywhere in the county are handled by the local Magisterial District Court with jurisdiction over that area.
Nearby Counties
Lehigh County borders several other Pennsylvania counties. Check where your citation was issued to confirm which county court has your traffic record.