Traffic Court Records in Franklin County
Franklin County traffic court records are filed and maintained at the General District Court and Circuit Court in Rocky Mount, Virginia. Both courts are located at 275 South Main Street. You can search Franklin County traffic records online through the Virginia Judicial System or go to the courthouse in person. Records cover speeding tickets, reckless driving cases, equipment violations, and other motor vehicle offenses handled in the 22nd Judicial District and Circuit.
Franklin County Court Overview
Franklin County Court Offices
Franklin County has both a General District Court and a Circuit Court, and both are co-located at 275 South Main Street in Rocky Mount. This makes it easy to visit both offices on the same trip. The General District Court is in Suite 111. The Circuit Court is in Suite 212, one floor up. Traffic violations are initially heard in the General District Court. Appeals go up to the Circuit Court.
The General District Court Clerk is Jacqueline Preston Brubaker. Her office handles initial traffic case filings, schedules hearings, and processes payments. Phone is (540) 483-3060, fax is (540) 483-3036. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The Circuit Court Clerk is Hon. Teresa J. Brown. Her office manages circuit-level records and appeals. Phone is (540) 483-3065, fax is (540) 483-3042. The email for the circuit court clerk is tjbrown@vacourts.gov.
Both courts run on the same schedule. Franklin County is part of the 22nd Judicial Circuit and 22nd Judicial District of Virginia. Mailing addresses use P.O. Box numbers: the GDC uses P.O. Box 569, and the Circuit Court uses P.O. Box 567. For most visits, the physical address at 275 South Main Street is what you need.
| General District Court | Suite 111, 275 South Main Street, Rocky Mount, VA 24151 |
|---|---|
| GDC Clerk | Jacqueline Preston Brubaker |
| GDC Phone | (540) 483-3060 |
| Circuit Court | Suite 212, 275 South Main Street, Rocky Mount, VA 24151 |
| Circuit Clerk | Hon. Teresa J. Brown |
| Circuit Phone | (540) 483-3065 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Judicial Circuit/District | 22nd Judicial Circuit and District of Virginia |
Search Franklin County Traffic Court Records
The Virginia Judicial System provides free online access to Franklin County traffic court records. Use the case information portal to search by name or case number. Select Franklin County and enter the defendant's last name or the case number from the summons. Results display the charge, court date, case status, and disposition. Both district and circuit court records appear in the same search interface.
The Franklin County General District Court page on the Virginia Courts site lists local contact information and court schedules. For circuit-level records and appeals, the Franklin Circuit Court page has the same type of information. Both are useful if you need to confirm court dates or find out how to submit documents.
The county site provides an overview of local services and links to state resources, including court information for both courts at 275 South Main Street.
Most traffic cases filed in Franklin County appear here, including both open and closed matters from the General District Court and Circuit Court.
Franklin County Traffic Violations
Franklin County courts see a range of traffic violations each year. Common cases include speeding, running red lights, following too closely, and equipment violations. More serious cases, like reckless driving and DUI charges, also go through the General District Court in Rocky Mount. Under Virginia Code Section 46.2-852, reckless driving is a Class 1 misdemeanor with potential jail time up to 12 months and fines up to $2,500. That is very different from a standard speeding ticket, which carries fines and demerit points but no criminal charge.
Speed-related reckless driving under Section 46.2-862 applies when a driver goes 20 or more miles per hour over the limit, or exceeds 80 miles per hour regardless of the posted limit. Franklin County has rural roads and some highways where speed limits vary. Route 220 and other state routes pass through the county, and law enforcement actively patrols these corridors.
If you receive a traffic ticket in Franklin County, the summons will tell you whether the charge requires a court appearance. Payable infractions can be resolved online. Misdemeanor charges like reckless driving require you to show up. Missing a court date without prior notice can result in a failure to appear charge and a suspended license.
Appeals from the General District Court and more serious traffic charges are heard at the Circuit Court level in Franklin County.
Most traffic cases in Franklin County begin here, in the General District Court, before any appeals or circuit court action.
Obtaining Franklin County Traffic Records
Traffic court records in Franklin County are public records. The clerk's offices at both the GDC and Circuit Court can provide copies. For district court records, contact the GDC clerk at (540) 483-3060. For circuit court records or certified copies of judgments, call the Circuit Court clerk at (540) 483-3065 or email tjbrown@vacourts.gov. You can also walk in during business hours and request records at the counter. Bring a photo ID and the name or case number.
Certified copies carry a fee. Plain copies are cheaper. State law sets the rates, and they are the same across all Virginia courts. If you need records from an older case that predates the online system, the paper file may still be at the courthouse. Archived records can take longer to retrieve. Call ahead if you are searching for older cases so the clerk can pull the file before your visit.
Under Virginia Code Section 19.2-392.2, dismissed charges and not-guilty verdicts may qualify for expungement. An expungement removes the record from public access. You file the petition with the Circuit Court and serve the Commonwealth's Attorney. The judge reviews it and issues a ruling. Expunged records are not visible to the public but may still be accessible to law enforcement in some circumstances.
Note: Both courts at Franklin County use P.O. Box mailing addresses. If you send written records requests by mail, use P.O. Box 569 for the GDC or P.O. Box 567 for the Circuit Court, both at Rocky Mount, VA 24151.
Nearby Counties
Franklin County borders several other Virginia counties in the southwestern region. Each county keeps its own traffic court records. If your case was filed in a different county, search that county's records separately.