Upstate Court Directories

Title
Village of Rhinebeck Justice Court
County
Dutchess
Address
76 East Market Street Rhinebeck, NY 12572
Phone
845-876-4119
Fax
845-876-7068
Traffic Calendar
First Thursday and Fourth Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m.
Criminal Calendar
First Thursday of the month at 4:00 p.m. and Second Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m.
Traffic Tickets
Prosecuted by the officer who issued the ticket
Criminal Prosecutions
Dutchess County District Attorney's Office
Judges
Hon. William Sanchez and Hon. John Kane Jr.

Rhinebeck Village Court

Traffic Enforcement & Prosecution

The major thoroughfares through the Village of Rhinebeck are U.S. 9 and NY Route 199. Enforcement is handled primarily by the Rhinebeck Police, though the NYS Police have a barracks located in the Town of Rhinebeck. Most speeding tickets are written for speeds less than 10 mph over the limit, due to the low village speed limit. In addition, the police regularly look for miscellaneous vehicle and traffic violations due to the heavy pedestrian traffic.

 

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. Unfortunately, no special town prosecutor has been appointed to deal with tickets written by the NYS police. As such, Trooper tickets will likely have to go to trial, since they are unable to negotiate.  One of the judges is a former police officer.

 

Local police officers generally prosecute their own tickets. Most tickets are resolved through plea bargains.

The wait to speak to speak to the officers is typically not very long. Less than a 1 hour wait is usual. 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.

One judge in Rhinebeck Town Court is an attorney. Both judges also preside over the Town of Rhinebeck Court.

 

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.