Municipal Court
What we do
The Colts Neck Township Municipal Court operates following the guidelines and procedures set forth by the New Jersey State Judiciary. It is an independent branch of government constitutionally entrusted with the fair and just resolution of disputes in order to preserve the rule of law and to protect the rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States and this State. Municipal Courts are governed by the principles of Independence, Fairness, and Integrity.
The Municipal Court is a Department of Colts Neck Township. However, Municipal Courts must operate following the guidelines, and procedures set forth by the New Jersey State Judiciary.
We will be happy to help you if we can. Please refer to the following to help you understand what the court staff can and cannot do.
Welcome to New Jersey Courts – English
Welcome to New Jersey Courts – Spanish
What to Understand About Appearing In Court
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic Colts Neck Municipal Court sessions will remain virtual until further notice.
If you receive a ticket that requires a Court Appearance, or a court notice you are scheduled for virtual court and are required to appear for the session. You must contact the court office seven days prior to the court date to provide an email address. You will be able to speak with the Prosecutor during the court session.
After providing an email, you will receive an email the week of your court appearance. Prior to joining the court session, you must view the Judge’s Opening Remarks by using the link provided. It is 12 minutes and 8 seconds long.
Please note that a virtual appearance should be treated the same as an in-person appearance. You should present your self in the same fashion virtually as you would in-person. To clarify, one must remove hats/hoods, be properly dressed and no smoking/eating.
Cases Handled: Criminal and Disorderly, and Petty Disorderly Complaints, Traffic, Parking and DWI’s, SPCA, Weights and Measures, Fish and Game, Local Park Commission, Township Ordinances, and Forest and Parks complaints.
Traffic and Parking Summonses: must be paid by the court date indicated on the front of the summons, unless you wish to please NOT GUILTY, in which case you must notify the Court at least five days prior to the date on the summons. To schedule a court appearance.
Criminal Complaint and Township Ordinances: Most ordinances and all 2C violations require a Court Appearance and you should either appear on the date indicated or check with the Court if you are uncertain as to how to proceed. a Bench Warrant can be issued for failure-to-appear, followed by a license suspension.
Online Municipal Court Resolution: The state has launched a new program that allows you to dispute certain traffic offenses without having to appear in court in person or virtually. If you would like to see if your traffic offense in eligible, go to njmcdirect.com click on traffic ticket, enter your ticket information, then click search. If your offense is eligible, you will have the option to pay the ticket or dispute the case. If you choose to dispute the case, be sure to check your email frequently for information from the prosecutor. Once the prosecutor reviews the case, you will only have five days to respond. Currently, attorneys are not eligible to use this program to resolve a ticket.
Payments: Tickets can be paid at the Violations Bureau during normal office hours, by mail or on the internet. Instructions are noted below under ‘WHAT TO DO AFTER YOUR COURT APPEARANCE’. Failure to respond to a summons by the date indicated can result in a $10.00 late fee being assessed. If paying by mail and a receipt is required, a stamped, self-addressed envelope must accompany the payment.
Mandatory Violations and Summonses Marked ‘Court Appearance Required’: Not all tickets are payable. For summonses requiring a court appearance you should appear on the date indicated or check with the Court if you are uncertain as to how to proceed. A Bench Warrant can be issued for failure-to-appear, followed by a license suspension.
Warrants: If you have a mandatory ticket or criminal complaint that has gone into Warrant status, you must post Bail and come to court.
Mandatory Court Appearances: If you are required to appear and have received a court notice you are scheduled for virtual court and are required to appear for the session. You must contact the court office five days prior the court date to provide an email address. You will be able to privately speak with the Prosecutor during the court session.
After providing your email you will receive an email the week of your court appearance. Prior to joining the court session, you must click on the link and view the Judges Opening Remarks. It is 12 minutes and 8 seconds long.
Video of Opening Remarks: https://youtu.be/y_zJg-XLde
There are 2 ways to enter the court session:
ZOOM: Click the link provided in the email you receive.
Telephone: Use the phone numbers provided in the email. When prompted enter the Meeting ID# listed in the email.
What To Do After Your Court Appearance
The Judge will discuss with you your payment options. If you were assessed fines/court costs they can be paid on-line, go to the following website:
You will need the following information, located on your ticket, to pay on-line:
Court ID: 1304 Prefix: CN or E- Ticket Number and License plate listed on your ticket. In addition, payments can be made with a check or money order mailed to:
Colts Neck Municipal Court
1 Veterans Way
Colts Neck, NJ 07722
Please include the ticket/complaint number on the check or money order. If a Time-Payment is needed, the court will forward that order to you by mail.
Payment of fines can be made at the Violations Window with cash, check or money order only – NO credit/debit cards.
Per AOC rules, audio and video recording of the proceedings are strictly prohibited. (R. 1:10-1). Willful violation of this policy a person may be held in contempt of court and may be charged by law enforcement with Criminal Contempt under N.J. S.A. 2c:29-9, which, upon conviction, carries penalties of up to six months in jail and a fine not to exceed $1,000. Further, any electronic device used in willful violation of this order may be confiscated. If you would like a copy of the proceedings, you can fill out a Judiciary Request form which is found at New Jersey Courts on-line.
Online Municipal Court Resolution
The state has launched a new program that allows you to dispute certain traffic offenses without having to appear in court in person or virtually. If you would like to see if your traffic offense is eligible, go to NJMCdirect, click on traffic ticket, enter your ticket information, then click search. If your offense is eligible, you will have the option to pay the ticket or dispute the case. If you choose to dispute the case, be sure to check your email frequently for information from the prosecutor. Once the prosecutor reviews the case, you will only have 5 days to respond.
Additional Information
Financial Questionnaire to establish indigency
If you face charges which carry penalties with a consequence of magnitude, e.g., fines of more that $750.00, jail time, license and/or registration suspension, probation, community service, etc., and you are unable to afford an attorney, you may apply for a public defender. An application for a public defender must be completed. The Judges will review your application and determine if you are eligible. If you wish to apply, please fill out the attached questionnaire and forward it to the court prior to your court date for the Judge’s review.
If a public defender is appointed to represent you, the court may assess an application fee up to $200.00. If the Judge appoints the public defender, the court will then provide you with instructions for contacting the public defender to prepare for your case.
Financial Questionnaire to Establish Indigency
Plea-By-Mail-Form
This form may only be used to plead NOT GUILTY or GUILTY in traffic or parking cases or GUILTY in non-traffic cases.
How to Appeal a Decision of a Municipal Court
If you have been found guilty and have been sentenced by a Municipal Court Judge and you want to appeal, you have twenty (20) calendar days from your conviction. The packet provided will show you how.
Records Request
If you need to request records of a disposed case in Colts Neck, a Records Request form needs to be completed. Municipal Courts do not respond to OPRA Requests. The Judiciary has created the form that Court Staff can respond to. If a Certified Disposition is requested there is a fee:
- Certified Disposition with a Signature – $5.00
- Certified Disposition with a Signature and Seal – $10.00
This can be paid with check or money order and mailed into the court with the request form.
Municipal Court Records Request Form
How To File A Citizen Complaint
A detailed complaint form is available to anyone wishing to file a private citizen complaint. All complaints are accepted for filing and are then reviewed for Probable Cause to Issue. Please find the form clicking the link below.
Municipal Court Citizen Complaint Form
Report a Concern Contact Us