Title: Town of Pawling  Justice Court

County: Dutchess

Address: 160 Charles Colman Boulevard, Pawling, NY 12564

Phone: 845-855-3516   Fax:  845-855-7265

Traffic Calendar: Every First and Fourth Thursday of the Month at6:30 p.m.

Criminal Calendar: Every First and Fourth Thursday of the Month at 6:30 p.m.

Traffic Tickets: Prosecuted by Special Town Prosecutor (State Police) or local officers.

Criminal Prosecutions: Dutchess County District Attorney's Office

Judges: Hon. Kevin Denton & Hon. David Daniels

Traffic Enforcement & Prosecution

 The major thoroughfares through the Town of Pawling are NY Route 55 and NY Route 22.  Enforcement in the Town of Pawling is provided by the Dutchess County Sheriff's Office and New York State Police from “Troop K.”  The Sheriff’s office has a substation in the middle of town, so they maintain a stronger presence in the heavily-trafficked areas. The MTA Police also patrol the center of town as there is a Metro-North Railroad Station at that location. 

Most speeding tickets are written for speeds more than 10 mph over the limit, though the police are stricter in the 30 mph zones. Traffic law enforcement along all of the other roads in the Town of Pawling is shared by the NYS Police and the Dutchess County Sheriff's Office.

Traffic Court

Both town justices have "traffic calendars," which are devoted to adjudicating traffic tickets. The NYS Police are prohibited from negotiating plea bargains on traffic violations.  As a result, a special town prosecutor has been appointed to deal with tickets written by the NYS police.  95% of state police tickets are adjudicated through plea bargains with the special prosecutor. The Town Prosecutor and both judges are reasonable about plea bargains as long as the speed through town was not too high.

Local police officers generally prosecute their own tickets, though the special prosecutor may substitute for them.  Again, most tickets are resolved through plea bargains.

The line of people waiting to talk to the special prosecutor can take a long time. A 1 hour wait is typical.  Attorneys are permitted to appear without their clients being present for traffic court.

For more information about speeding and other traffic offenses, click here.

To read some Frequently Asked Traffic Law questions, click here.

For information about having the Law Office of Glenn Magnell defend your speeding ticket or DWI charge,,click here.

Criminal Law Enforcement & Prosecution

All criminal prosecutions are handled by the Dutchess County District Attorney's Office.  The Dutchess DA's office has taken a fairly hard line on DWI prosecutions. In 2009 there were more than 3000 alcohol related driving arrests impaired or intoxicated driving (DWI, DWAI, DWAI-D) in Dutchess County.  Both the NYS Police and the Dutchess County Sheriff's Department made numerous arrests.  Most arrests occurred after dark with many taking place after midnight.  Police officers assume that many drivers who are out after midnight have consumed alcohol and or drugs. As a result they are looking for any lawful reason to pull drivers over in order to investigate possible DWI incidents.  Alcohol checkpoints were established several times by state and local police.

In addition to DWI and DWAI, numerous arrests were made for Driving While Impaired by Drugs, Aggravated Unlicensed Operation and Driving With a Suspended Registration.  All of these offenses are "criminal" violations of the law and, as a result are prosecuted by the Dutchess County District Attorney's office. Non-DWI cases are handled by local Assistant District Attorneys, but DWI cases are handled by three "DWI Prosecutors" working out of the DA's office in Poughkeepsie.

Both judges in Pawling Town Court are attorneys.

For more information about DWI, click here.

To read some Frequently Asked Questions about DWI, click here.

For information about having the Law Office of Glenn Magnell represent you, click here.