Justice Court

Directions

From the Taconic State Parkway – Exit Route 52 West to first traffic light- turn right onto Route 376.

Town hall is approximately 1 mile on the right.

From I-84 – Exit No. 15, Lime Kiln Road/iPark Boulevard to Route 52 – Route 52 East to first traffic light- turn left onto Route 376.

Court Sessions

Justice Frederick D. Romig regularly has court on Tuesday mornings.  Justice Brian Rudner regularly has court on Wednesday evenings beginning at 4:00pm; Civil Landord/Tenant matters will be heard at 6:00pm.  Additional court proceedings are scheduled as needed for small claims, jury trials, non-jury trials, hearings, and evening traffic court.  Please call the court for further information.  Regular court dates can change due to holidays.  Further, regular court dates will not be in session when the court has a scheduled jury trial.

Courtroom Rules

There is no eating or drinking inside of the courtroom.  Electronic devices are not permitted in the courtroom.  Proper attire should be work to court: no flip flops, shorts, or tank tops.

Payments

Payments are accepted in person via cash, money order, or Mastercard and Visa.  No personal checks are accepted.  Money orders can also be mailed tot he court.  Please note that the use of credit cards incur additional convenience surcharges.  Neither the Justice Court nor the Town receive the convenience fees.

Payment Plan

Important change in New York Law

beginning June 29, 2021, you can pay fines, fees, and surcharges for vehicle and traffic cases on an installment payment plan with no extra charge or interest.

• As the judge about payment plans if you are sentenced for a Vehicle and traffic charge.
• Minimum payment of $25 per month.
• Financial disclosure form may be required; FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REPORT FOR PAYMENT PLANS

Small Claims

Please call the Court before coming in to file.  To file a small claim in the Town Court, the person you are suing must reside, work, or have a place of business in the Town of East Fishkill.  The filing fee is $10.00 for lawsuits for amounts up to $1,000 and $15.00 for lawsuits for amounts greater than $1,000 up to and including $3,000.

You must be 18 years or older to bring an action in small claims; otherwise, the action must be brought by a parent or guardian.  Small claims are mailed certified return receipt and first class mail, therefore, a proper mailing address is required.

Please look below in the Important Forms section for the Small Claims Application Form

Civil Action

The Court has jurisdiction for Civil Action cases for up to $3,000.  The plaintiff or defendant must either reside, have a place of business in, or be employed in the Town of East Fishkill.

Traffic Tickets

To resolve a traffic ticket infraction in the local court, review your ticket to determine if it is a “misdemeanor” or “traffic infraction.”  You can locate this by looking at the ticket approximately 2/3 down on the right hand side.  If the misdemeanor box is checked, you must appear in Court to be arraigned by the Judge.

If the traffic infraction box is checked, you have the following options:  You can plead guilty or not guilty. If your plea is guilty, complete the guilty section and either mail it to the Court or bring it to the Court.  Bew sure to include your current mailing address.  You will then be notified by the Court about the amount of the fine due.  You must contact the Court within 60 days of the issuance of the ticket in order to avoid a suspension on your driver’s license.  You also will be subject to license suspension for failure to pay a fine set by the Judge after a guilty plea or finding of guilt at trial.  If you receive a letter about license suspension, call the Court immediately to address the issue before additional lift suspension fees will be imposed by the Department of Motor Vehicles.

If your plea is not guilty, complete the not guilty section and mail it to the clerk’s office by the return date on the ticket.  Again, be sure to include your current mailing address.  A letter will be mailed to you indicating a specific date and time to appear.  All tickets issued are prosecuted by the Town Attorney.

It is your responsibility to give the court your new address if you have moved.

Court Jurisdiction

The Town of East Fishkill is the local Justice Court in the Town of east Fishkill, Dutchess County, New York with jurisdiction over many different types of cases including Penal Law, Vehicle & Traffic Law, Parking, Town ordinances, Civil, Small Claims cases, and summery proceedings (landlord tenant).  This Court’s monetary jurisdiction in Civil and Small Claims cases is $3,000.00  The Court has jurisdiction over misdemeanor and violation cases that occur in the town as well as, limited jurisdiction of felony cases including arraignment and preliminary hearings.

Landlord Tenant

The Court has jurisdiction for summary proceedings (evictions) of property located within the Town.

Important Forms

Request for a Certification of Disposition

Small Claims Application