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Municipal Court
Public Safety Complex at 248 Hamilton Avenue, Second floor
Municipal Court is held Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m.

Administrative Information
Municipal Judge: Joseph Jones
Court Administrator: Susan Paul

2006 Public Defender: Thomas Mason
Alternate Public Defender: Mark Musella

2006 Prosecutor:
Alternate Prosecutor: Thomas Finn
Alternate Prosecutor: Samuel Presti

New Jersey Municipal Courts Direct
Pay traffic tickets online ·   Get traffic ticket information
http://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/atswep/njmcdirectmain

New Jersey Judiciary:  http://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/

Public Safety Complex Dedication
A dedication of the Public Safety Complex at 248 Hamilton Avenue was conducted by the Borough of Hasbrouck Heights Mayor and Council on December 20, 2003 at 2 p.m.  The Public Safety Building will house the Hasbrouck Heights Police Department, Fire Department and Municipal Court.
[Photos and story]

Mason's Cornerstone Ceremony
for the the new Public Safety Building (Police, Fire & Court) was held at Hamilton Ave.,
Sunday, November 23 at 1:30 p.m. Photos [Group 1][Group 2]

Chief's Tour of the new Public Safety Building
On November 11, 2003, Fire Chief Robert Thomasey and Police Chief Michael Colaneri gave us a tour of their new Public Safety Building.  This facility will house the Hasbrouck Heights Police Department, Fire Department and Municipal Court. [Group 1][Group 2]

Janice Gatto Appointed Municipal Judge

Borough resident Janice Gatto was appointed Municipal Court Judge at a special meeting of the Mayor and Council on December 26, 2002.   The appointment is for a three year term.  Judge Gatto is the first woman to become Municipal Judge in Hasbrouck Heights. [Story]

Municipal Court Judge Harry H. Chandless Jr. was sworn in for another 3 year term by
Superior Court Judge Sybil R. Moses at the Bergen County Justice Center on January 3, 2000.
Judge Chandless is the longest sitting Municipal Judge in the State of New Jersey.

See Judge Chandless Retires
Mayor & Council Proclamation for Judge Chandless

MUNICIPAL COURT INFORMATION
September 21, 2000

Municipal Court is in session every Wednesday at 1 PM at the Masonic Hall building, 200 Division Avenue and Judge Harry H. Chandless, Jr. presides. Judge Chandless has been Municipal Judge in Hasbrouck Heights for 34 years. Court is sometimes held on other days if the court calendar is too large or for special cases such as DWI cases with expert witnesses when the trial may be prolonged.

Any one is permitted to attend and observe Municipal Court sessions.

During an average week, Judge Chandless issues two Temporary Domestic Violence Restraining Orders after taking sworn testimony from the complainants. The Judge may also perform marriage ceremonies. The Judge is also frequently called by the Police Department to issue Warrants and to set bail.

Judge Chandless also sits in other Municipal Courts if an emergency develops regarding another Judge and may also be contacted by another municipality's Police regarding Warrants or Bail in the absence of their Judge. The same arrangement pertains to the Hasbrouck Heights Municipal Court.

During court sessions, Mark Musella and/or Thomas Mason act as Prosecutor; Fred Allen is Public Defender. Susan Paul is Court Administrator, with Estelle Hackel as Deputy Court Administrator.

Recent Developments:
The Court Administrator announced the Municipal Court Violations Schedule for all-night parking has been amended: Fines mailed into the Violations Bureau as guilty pleas for parking during 2AM through 6AM on Borough Streets have been raised to $20 from $15. All other parking violations have also been raised to $20 for those that were $15 when guilty pleas are made by mail instead of appearing in Court

A defendant may contest any case by appearing on the Court day after notifying the Court Administrator 7 days before the hearing date so that witnesses can be notified. Or the defendant may submit an Affidavit on certain cases, including parking cases, upon giving up the right to appear. Check with the Court Administrator, 288-4004, as to type of case permitted to plead by Affidavit.

Recently, the Court refused a motion to amend a speeding charge to a lesser charge against a Lodi man and the defendant was granted a postponement to obtain an attorney. Judge Chandless said that the this Court's policy was against amending speeding charges to a"no point" charge, until there is a change of driving habits in town, ..."if they have to sit in Court all night to hear contested cases."

The Judge stated that the August 16th session marked the 34th year he has been Judge of the Hasbrouck Heights Municipal Court. He said that the Court had always operated smoothly and efficiently because of the fine Administrative personnel over the years and the support given by the various Mayors and Councils, the police department and Borough employees. " In all my years here as Judge, I can think of no incident that ever occurred entering, inside or leaving the courtroom which caused any threat to or fear in anyone. People are usually on their best behaviour when they come to court. " The Supreme Court mandates that all courtrooms be open to the public during court sessions, the Judge indicated, and recalls that Hasbrouck Heights Municipal Court sessions were visited by grammar school classes brought by their teachers to observe at various times over the years. He also recalled seeing many who had offices or meetings in the old Municipal Building and who would stop in during some court sessions. He said that he remembers Andy Feintuch frequently observing court sessions, even when Mr. Feintuch was in a wheelchair. He thanked all who have helped to make our Municipal Court one to be proud of.

New laws:
A law went into effect September 5, 2000, granting the defendant, charged with both refusing to take a breathalyser test and driving under the influence (DWI), the right to plea bargain by pleading guilty to DWI and having the refusal charge dismissed. Previously, the six months revocation for refusal could not be dismissed and was added to the six months revocation for DWI upon conviction of both charges. It also appears that DWI and drug charges may now be plea-bargained, with the Municipal Judge's approval, which Supreme Court Rules previously prohibited.

In July, 200, the NJ Legislature overturned the NJ Supreme Court Ruling prohibiting amending moving motor vehicle charges to a charge which would have resulted in no points against the defendant's record with the Department of Motor Vehicles. The new law permits amending a point-producing charge, such as speeding or passing on the right, to a new charge without points, created by the Legislature: "Unsafe Driving". (This is different from "Careless Driving" which requires point assessment upon conviction). The difference between those two offenses is difficult to see, except by the result according to Judge Chandless.

This plea bargain would be on motion of the Prosecutor, usually with the police officer's agreement. The final decision on a plea bargain rests with the Judge and can be denied even if the Prosecutor and the defense agree. The purpose of the new law is to keep Court calendars from bogging down with trials on every contested charge in the Municipal Courts. ###################

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