Search Gloucester County Traffic Court Records
Gloucester County traffic court records are filed and maintained at the General District Court and Circuit Court, both located at 7400 Justice Drive in Gloucester, Virginia. You can search these records online through the Virginia Judicial System or visit the courthouse in person. Gloucester County traffic records include speeding tickets, reckless driving cases, DUI charges, and other motor vehicle violations handled through the 9th Judicial District and Circuit.
Gloucester County Court Overview
Gloucester County Court Offices
Both the General District Court and the Circuit Court in Gloucester County are at the same address: 7400 Justice Drive, Gloucester, VA 23061. The GDC is in Room 102. The Circuit Court is in Room 327. Having both offices in the same building makes it convenient if you need records from both courts on the same visit. Just check the room numbers before you go, since they are on different floors or sections of the building.
The General District Court Clerk is Hannah Ruth Smith. Phone is (804) 693-4860, fax is (804) 693-6669. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. This is where most traffic violations are first heard. The Circuit Court Clerk is Hon. Gloria J. Owens. Phone is (804) 693-2502, fax is (804) 693-2186. The circuit court stays open a bit later, until 4:30 PM. Both courts are open Monday through Friday only.
Gloucester County is part of the 9th Judicial Circuit and District of Virginia. The circuit is shared with Mathews County and Middlesex County. Cases filed in Gloucester County stay in the Gloucester courts unless appealed to a higher Virginia court. The county seat is the town of Gloucester, which is also where the courthouse complex at Justice Drive is located.
| General District Court | 7400 Justice Drive, Room 102, Gloucester, VA 23061 |
|---|---|
| GDC Clerk | Hannah Ruth Smith |
| GDC Phone | (804) 693-4860 |
| GDC Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
| Circuit Court | 7400 Justice Drive, Room 327, Gloucester, VA 23061 |
| Circuit Clerk | Hon. Gloria J. Owens |
| Circuit Phone | (804) 693-2502 |
| Circuit Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Judicial Circuit/District | 9th Judicial Circuit and District of Virginia |
Gloucester County Traffic Records Search
The Virginia Judicial System provides free online access to Gloucester County traffic court records. Use the OCIS 2.0 case information portal to search by defendant name, case number, or court date. Choose Gloucester County from the court list. Results include the charge, hearing date, case status, and disposition. Both GDC and Circuit Court records appear in the same search interface, making it easy to pull up the full case history in one place.
The Gloucester General District Court page on the Virginia Courts site has local court details and schedules. The Gloucester Circuit Court page lists circuit-level information. For payable traffic tickets, use the Virginia Courts online payment tool to resolve the case without visiting the courthouse. Reckless driving and other misdemeanor charges require an in-person court appearance.
The county site connects residents to county departments and state court portals, including case search and payment tools for traffic records.
This is the main statewide tool for searching Gloucester County traffic cases from both the district court and circuit court.
Traffic Violations Handled in Gloucester County
Gloucester County sits on the Virginia Peninsula in the Tidewater region. Route 17 is the main corridor running through the county, and it sees consistent patrol coverage. Many traffic stops happen along this route and on connecting secondary roads. Common charges include speeding, improper lane changes, failure to yield, and equipment violations. More serious offenses like reckless driving and DUI go through the same court system in Gloucester.
Under Virginia Code Section 46.2-852, reckless driving is a Class 1 misdemeanor in Virginia. It is not just a ticket. A conviction means a criminal record, potential jail time up to 12 months, and fines up to $2,500. It also stays on your driving record for 11 years. Virginia's reckless driving by speed law under Section 46.2-862 triggers this charge when a driver goes 20 or more miles per hour over the posted limit or exceeds 80 miles per hour in any zone.
Speed limits in Gloucester County vary by road type. State law under Title 46.2, Chapter 8 sets general limits and rules, but posted signs on each road control. If you are not sure what the limit was where you were stopped, check the summons. It should list the posted limit and your recorded speed.
Appeals from the Gloucester General District Court and more serious traffic charges are handled here at the circuit court level.
This is where most Gloucester County traffic cases begin. The GDC handles the initial hearing and processes most outcomes, from fines to sentencing on misdemeanor charges.
Getting Copies of Gloucester Court Records
Gloucester County traffic court records are public. You can visit either the GDC in Room 102 or the Circuit Court in Room 327 at 7400 Justice Drive during business hours. Bring a photo ID and the case information you are looking for. Staff can search the records system and provide copies at the counter. Plain copies and certified copies are both available. Certified copies cost more and are needed for legal proceedings or official purposes.
Written records requests by mail are accepted. Send your request to the appropriate court with the full name, approximate hearing date or year, and your return address. The clerk will respond with confirmation of the fee before sending any copies. If the records you need are older, they may be archived. Call ahead so the court can locate the file before your visit or before sending a mail request.
If a traffic charge against you was dismissed or resulted in a not-guilty verdict, you may be eligible for expungement under Virginia Code Section 19.2-392.2. File the petition with the Circuit Court and serve the Commonwealth's Attorney. The court holds a hearing. If the expungement is granted, the record is removed from public access. This does not happen automatically after a dismissal. You have to file a petition.
Note: The GDC closes at 4:00 PM, but the Circuit Court stays open until 4:30 PM. If you arrive late in the afternoon, verify which office is still open before making your way to the building.
Nearby Counties
Gloucester County is on the Middle Peninsula and shares the 9th Judicial Circuit with Mathews and Middlesex. Surrounding counties each maintain their own court records.