Upstate Court Directories

Title
Town of Dover Justice Court
County
Dutchess
Address
126 East Duncan Hill, Dover Plains, NY 12522
Phone
845-832-3461
Fax
Judge Abrams: 845-877-0353; Judge Fusco: 845-832-7378
Traffic Calendar
Every Thurs. at 6:00 p.m. and Tues. at 7:00 p.m.
Criminal Calendar
Second Monday of the month at 6:00 p.m. and Third Tuesday of the month at 6:00 p.m. Second and Fourth Thursdays of the month at 6:00 p.m.
Traffic Tickets
Prosecuted by Special Town Prosecutor (State Police) or local officers
Criminal Prosecutions
Dutchess County District Attorney's Office
Judges
Hon. R. Wren Abrams & Hon. John Fusco

Dover, NY Town Court Profile

Traffic Enforcement & Prosecution

NY Route 22 is the main thoroughfare running through the Town of Dover, though NY Route 55 passes through the southern part of town. Enforcement is handled primarily by the NYS Police from “Troop K,” which has a barracks located in Dover. The Dutchess County Sheriff’s is also present with a nearby substation in the town of Amenia. Stationary radar and laser speed detection are widely used. Speed and traffic enforcement is more concentrated in town, with the outskirts being less frequently patrolled.

 

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 was not more than 20 mph over the limit or over 80 mph.

 

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

Expect a modest line of people waiting to talk to the special prosecutor about a plea bargain. 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.

Neither judge in Dover Town Court is an attorney.

 

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.