Giles County Court Records for Traffic Cases

Giles County traffic court records are held at the General District Court and Circuit Court in Pearisburg, Virginia. You can search these records online through the Virginia Judicial System or visit either courthouse during business hours. Giles County traffic records cover speeding tickets, reckless driving charges, DUI cases, and other motor vehicle violations processed through the 27th Judicial District and Circuit. This guide shows you where to find those records and how to use the available tools.

Giles County Court Offices

Giles County has two separate court locations in Pearisburg. The General District Court is at 120 North Main Street, Suite 1, Pearisburg, VA 24134. The phone number is (540) 921-3533 and the fax is (540) 921-3752. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The GDC Clerk is Yvette M. Pennington. This is where traffic violations are first heard, from simple equipment violations to speeding and DUI charges.

The Circuit Court is at a different address: 501 Wenonah Avenue, Suite 1, Pearisburg, VA 24134. The phone is (540) 921-1722 and fax is (540) 921-3825. Hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday. The Circuit Court Clerk is Hon. Sherry E. Gautier. The circuit court handles appeals from the district court and hears more serious criminal matters. Both courts are in Pearisburg but require separate trips to different buildings if you need documents from each.

Giles County is part of the 27th Judicial Circuit and District of Virginia. This circuit also covers Floyd County and Grayson County. Each county has its own local court staff, but they operate under the same circuit-wide structure and procedures. Cases filed in Giles County stay in Giles County courts unless appealed to a higher state court.

Search Giles County Traffic Court Records

The Virginia Judicial System provides free online access to Giles County traffic court records through the OCIS 2.0 case information portal. Search by defendant name, case number, or court date. Select Giles County from the dropdown list. The system shows the charge, hearing date, case status, and court disposition. Both district and circuit records are included in the search.

The Giles County General District Court page on the Virginia Courts site has local contact details and scheduling information. The Giles County Circuit Court page has the same for the circuit level. Both pages link to the statewide case search tool. For eligible traffic tickets, use the Virginia Courts online payment portal to resolve your case without a courthouse visit.

This statewide portal is the primary tool for looking up active and closed traffic cases from both Giles County courts.

Reckless driving and misdemeanor charges are not payable online. Check your summons to confirm whether your charge requires a court appearance.

Traffic Violations and Virginia Law

Virginia's traffic statutes apply uniformly across the state. In Giles County, common traffic offenses include speeding, failure to yield, following too closely, and equipment violations. More serious charges, like reckless driving and DUI, are also handled in the Pearisburg courts. Under Virginia Code Section 46.2-852, reckless driving is a Class 1 misdemeanor. It carries possible jail time of up to 12 months and fines up to $2,500. A conviction stays on a Virginia driving record for 11 years.

Speed-related reckless driving under Virginia Code Section 46.2-862 applies when a driver exceeds the posted limit by 20 or more miles per hour, or travels faster than 80 miles per hour regardless of the limit. Giles County has rural roads and mountain routes where traffic enforcement is active. US Route 460 runs through the county and sees regular patrol activity. Drivers passing through may receive Virginia traffic citations that require a court appearance in Pearisburg.

The Virginia DMV handles the administrative side of traffic penalties separately from the courts. Points go on your DMV record when a court reports a conviction. You can view your own driving record through the Virginia DMV website. Court records and DMV records are separate systems, though a conviction in Giles County courts will trigger an update to your DMV record.

Traffic cases appealed from the General District Court are heard at this level. Circuit court records for Giles County are available through the Virginia Courts case portal.

Most Giles County traffic cases start here, in the General District Court. This is also where you would go to pay fines in person or request continuances.

Accessing Giles County Traffic Court Records

Traffic court records in Giles County are public records. You can visit either courthouse in person during business hours. For district court records, go to 120 North Main Street, Suite 1. For circuit court records, go to 501 Wenonah Avenue, Suite 1. Both are in Pearisburg. Bring a photo ID and the name or case number. Staff can search the system and provide copies. The GDC and Circuit Court have different hours, so plan your visit based on which records you need.

Written requests by mail are accepted at both offices. Include the full name of the person in the case, the approximate date of the offense or hearing, and your return address. The clerk's office will confirm the cost before sending anything. Certified copies cost more than plain copies. State law sets the fee schedule, and it is the same across all Virginia courts.

Under Virginia Code Section 19.2-392.2, dismissed charges and not-guilty findings may qualify for expungement. You file the petition with the Circuit Court. The Commonwealth's Attorney must be served. A hearing is set, and the judge decides. If granted, the record is removed from public access. Call the Circuit Court at (540) 921-1722 to ask about the process before filing.

Note: The GDC and Circuit Court in Giles County are at different addresses in Pearisburg. Confirm which court has the records you need before you make the trip, and note the different closing hours.

Nearby Counties

Giles County is in southwestern Virginia and shares the 27th Judicial Circuit with Floyd and Grayson. Neighboring counties each have their own courts and records systems.

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