Contact Information
Department Head: Sharon Alpaugh
Phone Number: (908) 879-3660 Ext. 2126
Fax Number: (908) 879-3140
E-Mail: SAlpaugh@ChesterBorough.org
Please note that the Muncipal Court is now located at 50 North Road.
Municipal Court Judge: C. William Bowkley, Jr.
Municipal Prosecutor: James LaSala
Court Administrator: Sharon Alpaugh
Public Defender: Barry Shinberg
Violation Bureau Hours: 8:00-4:30 , Monday through Friday
Court Sessions:First and Third Wednesdays of the month at 7:30 PM , unless otherwise noticed.
Plea Information
- TO ENTER A PLEA OF NOT GUILTY: If you intend to plead not guilty to the offense which you are charged and have a trial, you must notify the Court Administrator at the address and phone number above, at least SEVEN days prior to your scheduled court date. Your court date is listed on the bottom of the complaint and summons. Failure to notify the Court Administrator may result in your making additional court appearances.
- COURT APPEARANCE REQUIRED: If “Court Appearance Required” is checked on the complaint and summons you have been issued, YOU MUST APPEAR in court at the time and place indicated, even if you wish to plead guilty. If “Court Appearance Required” is not checked on the complaint and summons, you must still appear in court if: a. You wish to have a trial; or b. The charge is not listed on the State or Local (Supplemental) Violations Bureau Schedule.
- PLEA OF GUILTY: PAYMENT THROUGH VIOLATIONS BUREAU: If you wish to plead guilty and give up your rights to have a lawyer and a trial you may do so provided “Court Appearance Required” has not been checked on the complaint and summons and provided the charge is listed on the Violations Bureau Schedule. If the Violations Bureau is authorized to dispose of the charge, complete in full the APPEARANCE, GUILTY PLEA AND WAIVER on the bottom of the complaint and summons and bring or mail this together with your payment in the amount of the prescribed penalty, to the Violations Bureau at the address stated above prior to your scheduled court date.
- Payments through the mail should be made in the form of check or money order. DO NOT MAIL CASH. Please print your complaint and summons number on the front of your check or money order. If you wish a receipt, please forward a stamped self-addressed envelope along with your payment.
STATE VIOLATIONS BUREAU SCHEDULE OF COMMONLY CHARGED OFFENSES
| STATUTE | OFFENSE | PENALTY |
| 39:3-4 | Unregistered Vehicle | $54.00 |
| 39:3-29 | Failure to exhibit documents | $54.00 |
| 39:3-33 | Unclear Plates | $54.00 |
| 39:3-66 | Maintenance of lamps | $54.00 |
| 39:3-76.2f | Failure to wear seatbelt | $46.00 |
| 39:4-81 | Failure to observe signal | $85.00 |
| 39:4-85 | Improper passing | $85.00 |
| 39:4-97 | Careless driving | $85.00 |
| 39:4-124 | Failure to turn | $85.00 |
| 39:4-144 | Failure to stop or yield | $85.00 |
| 39:8-1 | Failure to inspect | $130.00 |
| 39:8-4 | Failure to make repairs | $130.00 |
| 39:4-98 | Speeding | |
| 1-9 MPH 10-14 MPH 15-19 MPH 20-24 MPH |
$85.00 $95.00 $105.00 $200.00 |
LOCAL (SUPPLEMENTAL) VIOLATIONS BUREAU SCHEDULE
| ORDINANCE | OFFENSE | PENALTY |
| 175-9 | No parking fire zones | $54.00 |
| 175-12 | Vehicle to operate in traffic lanes only | $85.00 |
| 175-13 | No stopping or standing | $54.00 |
| 175-14 | Parking in marked lines only | $54.00 |
| 175-15 | Stop intersections | $85.00 |
| 175-16 | One-way traffic lanes | $85.00 |
| 175-17 | Failure to keep right | $85.00 |
| 175-18 | Prohibited turns | $85.00 |
| 175-19 | Speed limits in shopping centers | |
| 1-9 MPH 10-14 MPH 15-19 MPH 20-24 MPH |
$85.00 $95.00 $105.00 $200.00 |
|
| 175-25 | Careless driving | $85.00 |
| 225-3.B | Emergency-no parking | $54.00 |
| 225-3.C | No Parking | $54.00 |
| 225-3.D | No Parking | $54.00 |
| 225-3.F | Time limited parking | $54.00 |
| 225-3.G | No stopping or standing | $54.00 |
- All motor vehicle accidents resulting in personal injury and handicap parking violations are MANDATORY COURT APPEARANCES.
- If the offense that you have been charged with is NOT listed above, or if it occurred in either a 65 M.P.H. zone or a Construction zone, please contact the Municipal Court to determine the amount of the fine.
- POINTS ARE ASSESSED ON MOVING VIOLATIONS BY THE NEW JERSEY DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLES NOT THE MUNICIPAL COURT.
- Please make sure we have your current proper mailing address. If we try to contact you with information on your case and your address is wrong, it may result in a failure to appear notice and warrant being issued for your arrest.
- CRIMINAL COMPLAINTS – Criminal complaints must be filed in person with the Court Administrator. An affidavit surrounding the incident for which the complaint is requested will need to be completed to determine if there is probable cause for the issuance of the complaint.
- OTHER QUESTIONS – For additional information, please contact the court at the above address or telephone number.
- Payments by credit card may be made through the Judiciary website at www.njmcdirect.com.