Find Traffic Court Records in Dinwiddie County
Dinwiddie County traffic court records are processed through the county court system near Petersburg, Virginia. The county is part of Virginia's 10th Judicial Circuit, which also covers other central Virginia jurisdictions. Traffic violations in Dinwiddie County are heard at the General District Court level, and the Circuit Court handles appeals and more serious matters. You can search Dinwiddie County traffic court records through the Virginia Judicial System online or through the county's own court resources at dinwiddieva.us.
Dinwiddie County Court Overview
Dinwiddie County Circuit Court
The Dinwiddie County Circuit Court is part of Virginia's 10th Judicial Circuit. Clerk of court is Hon. John B. Chappell Jr., who can be reached by email at bchappell@vacourts.gov. Court hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The Circuit Court handles appeals from General District Court traffic cases, felony trials, civil matters exceeding GDC jurisdiction, and land records. Traffic cases start at the General District Court level.
The court administrator is Terri Driskill, reachable at 804-431-5602. The court schedule for criminal and civil terms begins on the 3rd Tuesday of January, March, May, July, September, and November at 9:00 a.m. Criminal bench days occur every Wednesday morning, with traffic appeals heard on the 4th Wednesday afternoon. If you have a traffic conviction you want to appeal, note the 4th Wednesday p.m. schedule for traffic appeals at Circuit Court.
The Dinwiddie County website at dinwiddieva.us provides court document access online. The county makes court orders and certain documents available through their portal, and the court also sends orders by email to parties who have provided an email address.
| Court | Dinwiddie County Circuit Court |
|---|---|
| Judicial Circuit | 10th Judicial Circuit of Virginia |
| Clerk | Hon. John B. Chappell Jr. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Court Admin | Terri Driskill, 804-431-5602 |
| County Website | dinwiddieva.us |
| Circuit Court Page | vacourts.gov |
Search Dinwiddie Traffic Court Records
Dinwiddie County traffic court records can be searched online through the Virginia Judicial System at vacourts.gov/caseinfo/home. Select the Dinwiddie County court from the dropdown and search by defendant name, case number, or hearing date. Results show the charges filed, scheduled court dates, case status, and payment eligibility. This tool covers both General District Court and Circuit Court records statewide.
Dinwiddie County also makes court documents available through the county website. The county portal at dinwiddieva.us allows access to certain court orders and case documents. This can be useful for looking up specific orders from past cases. The court can also email orders to parties if an email address is on file.
For in-person records access, visit the courthouse in Dinwiddie during normal business hours. Bring the case number or defendant's full name. If you need certified copies of records, the clerk's office can prepare them for a fee. Certified copies are often needed for legal proceedings, insurance claims, or public court records.
Appeals from General District Court traffic convictions go to the Circuit Court. Appeal deadlines are strict in Virginia, so act within 10 calendar days of a conviction if you want to challenge the outcome. The traffic appeals docket at Circuit Court runs on the 4th Wednesday afternoon, so planning your appeal timeline around that schedule makes sense.
Note: The county court system is near Petersburg, so some resources and records may reference the Petersburg area. Make sure you are looking at Dinwiddie County specifically when searching, not Petersburg City.
Traffic Violations and Virginia Law in Dinwiddie
Traffic cases in Dinwiddie County are governed by Virginia's statewide traffic laws. The county is near Interstate 85 and US-1, both major corridors with active speed enforcement by state police and the county sheriff. Speeding violations are the most common cases in Dinwiddie's General District Court. Fines and DMV points depend on how fast you were going relative to the posted limit under Virginia Code § 46.2-870.
Reckless driving charges are serious. Under § 46.2-862, exceeding the speed limit by more than 20 mph or driving over 80 mph is reckless driving by speed, a Class 1 misdemeanor. Under § 46.2-852, general reckless driving covers any driving that puts others at risk. Both charges can result in jail time, large fines, license suspension, and a criminal record. Six DMV demerit points are assessed for reckless driving convictions.
Virginia's Interstate 85 corridor through Dinwiddie sees many out-of-state drivers receive citations. If you are an out-of-state driver convicted of a Virginia traffic offense, the conviction will be reported to your home state DMV through the Interstate Driver License Compact. Your home state may then take its own action on your license. This is true even for speeding tickets that might be minor in other states but carry more weight under Virginia's laws.
After a conviction in Virginia, you have 90 days to pay the fine. The court may allow more time with a request and an administrative fee. Virginia law changed in 2019 so that the DMV no longer suspends licenses for failure to pay court fines. But unpaid fines can still be sent to collections and may carry interest. Keeping current on fines avoids that outcome.
If you were charged and found not guilty, or if your charge was dismissed, you may be eligible for expungement under Virginia Code § 19.2-392.2. Expungement removes the arrest or charge record. Convictions generally cannot be expunged. Speak with an attorney if you are considering this option after a Dinwiddie County traffic case.
Paying Dinwiddie County Traffic Tickets
Eligible traffic fines for Dinwiddie County cases can be paid online through the Virginia Judicial System payment portal. A 4% convenience fee applies to all credit and debit card payments. In-person payments are accepted at the courthouse during court hours. Mail payments should go to the Dinwiddie County court as a check or money order. Call the court administrator at 804-431-5602 to confirm the exact mailing address for payment submissions.
Prepayable tickets can be paid before your court date to avoid appearing in court. Your summons will show whether prepayment is an option. If the prepayment block on your ticket is checked, you can pay online or by mail. Payment counts as a guilty plea, so weigh your options before paying, especially if the conviction will add points or affect insurance rates significantly.
For fines owed after a court appearance, contact the clerk or court administrator to confirm the payment window and available options. Payment plans may be arranged through the court for those who cannot pay in full immediately.
Dinwiddie County Court Resources
The Dinwiddie County website provides online access to court orders and resources for residents with traffic cases.
The county site allows online document viewing, and parties whose email addresses are on file can receive court orders by email.
The county portal at dinwiddieva.us/index.aspx?nid=746 provides direct access to court documents and online case information tools.
Use this page to access court documents or find links to the statewide case search and payment tools for Dinwiddie County cases.
The Virginia Judicial System case search portal handles statewide lookups for all Dinwiddie County traffic court records.
Search results include charges, court dates, and case status for traffic violations and other cases filed in Dinwiddie County.
The Virginia traffic ticket payment portal allows eligible Dinwiddie County defendants to pay fines online.
Pay eligible Dinwiddie County traffic tickets here before your court date. Payment is treated as a guilty plea, so check your options before proceeding.
Nearby Counties
These counties are near Dinwiddie in the Petersburg metro area or the 10th Judicial Circuit.