Luzerne County Traffic Court Records
Luzerne County traffic court records are maintained by the 11th Judicial District, based in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. The county operates sixteen Magisterial District Courts spread across its geography, each handling traffic citations filed in their local jurisdiction. Summary appeals from MDJ traffic decisions go to the Clerk of Courts at the county courthouse. Records are searchable for free through the UJS Web Portal. You can find Luzerne County traffic court records by name, docket number, or citation number online.
Luzerne County Quick Facts
How to Search Luzerne County Traffic Court Records
The main online tool for Luzerne County traffic court records is the statewide UJS Portal case search. It is free and covers all sixteen district courts in the county. Search by defendant name, docket number, or citation number to pull up case status, hearing dates, and dispositions. Traffic citations retained for three years after final disposition appear in this system.
For in-person access, visit the Luzerne County Courthouse at 200 N. River Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711. The Clerk of Courts office handles criminal and traffic case files. The phone is 570-825-1585. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The Clerk of Courts also accepts summary appeals from MDJ traffic decisions and processes expungement requests for traffic and non-traffic summary offenses. A PennDOT-related fax line is available at 570-825-6303.
Note: Online payments for traffic fines are available through PAePay and the nCourt system at 1-844-400-8880. Accepted payment methods include Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and Google Pay.
Luzerne County Clerk of Courts for Traffic Records
The Luzerne County Clerk of Courts is the filing office for all criminal, juvenile, and dependency court cases. It also accepts and processes summary appeals from Magistrate decisions in both traffic and non-traffic cases. This office is the primary contact for anyone who needs to appeal a Luzerne County traffic citation ruling from an MDJ court.
The Clerk of Courts also handles expungements and limited access requests for criminal and summary court cases. If your traffic citation was resolved through a plea or hearing and you wish to pursue expungement, the Clerk of Courts office at 200 N. River Street is the right starting point. Under 42 Pa.C.S. Section 1302, the traffic jurisdiction framework in Pennsylvania applies to Luzerne County's court system just as it does in every other county.
Magisterial District Courts and Luzerne County Traffic Cases
The Luzerne County Magisterial District Judge's Offices page lists all sixteen district courts spread across the county. Each MDJ court has jurisdiction over civil claims up to $12,000, criminal preliminary arraignments, and traffic offenses. The courts are strategically placed throughout the county so that residents across Luzerne County can resolve traffic matters locally.
When a traffic citation is issued in Luzerne County, it is filed with the MDJ court that has jurisdiction over that area. The driver can pay the fine, request a hearing, or in some cases, accept a plea. If the MDJ rules against the driver at a hearing, the case can be appealed to the Court of Common Pleas. The appeal must be filed with the Clerk of Courts within 30 days. The new hearing at the Common Pleas level is a full de novo proceeding.
Under 42 Pa.C.S. Section 1515, Magisterial District Judge jurisdiction applies uniformly across all Pennsylvania counties, including Luzerne.
Luzerne County Court Structure and Traffic Appeals
The Pennsylvania Courts website for Luzerne County confirms the county is part of the 11th Judicial District. The Court of Common Pleas has four divisions: Civil, Criminal, Family, and Orphans' Court. Traffic citation appeals land in the Criminal Division. Court of Common Pleas cases are courts of record, meaning official transcripts are produced.
| Clerk of Courts |
200 N River Street Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711 Phone: 570-825-1585 Fax: 570-825-1843 |
|---|---|
| PennDOT Fax | 570-825-6303 |
| Court of Common Pleas | Phone: 570-825-1500 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Online Search | ujsportal.pacourts.us |
PennDOT and Luzerne County Traffic Convictions
Every traffic conviction from a Luzerne County MDJ court is reported to PennDOT. Points are assessed based on the violation type. A driver who accumulates too many points faces further action from PennDOT, including mandatory hearings or license suspension.
You can view your driving record at the PennDOT driver records portal. This reflects all convictions reported from Luzerne County and across Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Courts website describes how the Unified Judicial System integrates all court levels. The Pennsylvania Vehicle Code, Title 75, defines the specific offenses that lead to points on your driving record from Luzerne County courts.
Nearby Counties
Luzerne County borders several Pennsylvania counties. If you are uncertain which county court has your traffic record, check where the citation was written.