Upstate Court Directories

Title
Town of Harrison Justice Court
County
Westchester
Address
1 Heineman Place, Harrison, NY 10528
Phone
914-670-3010
Fax
914-835-1262
Traffic Calendar
Tuesdays at 9:00 a.m.; First and Second Thursday of the Month at9:00 a.m.
Criminal Calendar
Tuesdays at 9:00 a.m.
Traffic Tickets
Prosecuted by Special Prosecutor (State Police) or local officers
Criminal Prosecutions
Westchester County District Attorney's Office
Judges
Hon. Marc J. Lust and Hon. Nelson E. Canter

Harrison, NY Town Court

Traffic Enforcement

Harrison Town Court is the second busiest court in Westchester County. There are numerous major thoroughfares, including I-95 (the New England Thruway), I-287, I-684, and the Hutchinson River Parkway. There is always a significant police presence due to the heavy traffic to and from New York City and the City of White Plains. Enforcement varies between the NYS Police from Troop K (Troop T on the Thruway), the Westchester County Sheriff’s Office, and the Town of Harrison Police Department.

In higher speed zones almost all speeding tickets are written for speeds more than 10 mph over the limit. Stationary radar and laser speed detection are widely used on all major highways. Speed enforcement is intense on the parkway as it is considered a “more dangerous” road.

 

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 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 prosecutor and 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 can prosecute their own tickets, though the special prosecutor usually substitutes for them. Again, most tickets are resolved through plea bargains.

Expect a long 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 and Prosecutions

All criminal prosecutions are handled by the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office. The Westchester DA’s office has taken a fairly hard line on DWI prosecutions. In 2013 there were more than 2000 alcohol related driving arrests impaired or intoxicated driving (DWI, DWAI, DWAI-D) in Westchester County. Both the NYS Police and the Westchester 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 Westchester County District Attorney’s Office. The DA’s Office has a general rule that breath tests of .12% or more will not be reduced through plea bargains. However, this is not a hard and fast policy.

Both judges in Harrison 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 on yourticket or DWI charge,, click here.