Northampton County Traffic Court Records
Northampton County traffic court records are filed and kept at the General District Court in Eastville. The court handles all traffic violations for the county, including cases brought by state police, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel authority, park police, game wardens, and local law enforcement. If you need to find a case, check a charge, or get copies of court documents from Northampton County traffic court, this page explains how the court works and how to access records.
Northampton County Court Overview
Northampton County General District Court
The General District Court for Northampton County is located at 5229 The Hornes, P.O. Box 125, Eastville, VA 23347. Clerk Karen Merritt oversees the office and can be reached at (757) 678-0466. The fax number is (757) 678-5410. You can also email the clerk at kmerritt@courts.state.va.us for general questions. The court is in session four or five days per week, with traffic cases heard on specific days depending on which agency issued the citation.
The Circuit Court is also located at 5229 The Hornes, P.O. Box 36, Eastville, VA 23347-0036. Circuit Court Clerk is Hon. Traci L. Johnson, reachable at 757-678-0465. When a traffic case is appealed from the General District Court, it moves to the Circuit Court for a new trial on the record. The Circuit Court also handles serious felony traffic offenses like DUI causing injury and felony hit and run.
| Office | Northampton County General District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 5229 The Hornes, P.O. Box 125, Eastville, VA 23347 |
| Phone | (757) 678-0466 |
| Fax | (757) 678-5410 |
| Clerk | Karen Merritt |
| Clerk Email | kmerritt@courts.state.va.us |
| Judicial District | 2nd Judicial District (2A) |
Note: The court is in session four or five days per week. Check the court schedule or call ahead before coming in to make sure the clerk's office is open and can assist you that day.
Northampton County Traffic Court Schedule
One thing that sets Northampton County apart from many Virginia courts is its detailed daily schedule. Traffic cases are grouped by the issuing agency and heard on specific days and times. This organized approach means defendants know exactly when their type of case will be called. If you are looking at court records, the schedule also helps you understand which days produced which types of traffic cases in the docket.
Tuesday is the main traffic day for state-issued citations. State Police cases are heard at 9:00 a.m. and again at 11:00 a.m. Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel cases go at 10:00 a.m. Park Police and Game Warden cases are also heard during the Tuesday morning session. Traffic citations from Exmore are heard at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday. These schedules reflect the unique geography of Northampton County on the Eastern Shore, where multiple enforcement agencies operate along U.S. Route 13.
Wednesday focuses on locally issued traffic citations. The Northampton County Sheriff's Office cases are heard at 9:00 a.m. Eastville Police cases follow at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday afternoons at 1:30 p.m. are reserved for VASAP, Community Corrections, and DUI-related case reviews. Thursday handles criminal arraignments at 9:30 a.m., misdemeanor cases at 10:00 a.m., and preliminary hearings at 11:00 a.m.
You can find Northampton County court information at co.northampton.va.us/government/departments_elected_offices/courts, including contact details and links to state resources.
Searching Northampton County Traffic Records
The Virginia Courts online case information system at vacourts.gov/caseinfo allows free searches of Northampton County traffic court records. Select General District Court, pick Northampton County, and search by name or case number. Results show case type, charge, hearing date, and outcome. The portal covers recent years and is updated regularly. For older cases or certified copies, the clerk's office is the right contact.
The General District Court page on the Northampton County website has specific court information, including contact details and case type descriptions.
The Virginia Judicial System at vacourts.gov is the main hub for court information and online case access across all 95 Virginia counties including Northampton.
Search Northampton County traffic cases directly at vacourts.gov/caseinfo. The statewide system includes General District Court dockets for all Virginia counties.
Traffic Violations and Virginia Law
Virginia's traffic laws are found in Title 46.2 of the Code of Virginia. In Northampton County, the most common traffic charges include speeding, reckless driving, DUI, following too close, and equipment violations. Speeding fines are set by state statute under § 46.2-870. Fines increase significantly when driving more than 20 mph over the limit or exceeding 85 mph, because those thresholds trigger reckless driving under § 46.2-862.
Reckless driving in Virginia is a Class 1 misdemeanor under § 46.2-852. It is not just a traffic ticket. A conviction carries up to 12 months in jail, a $2,500 fine, and six demerit points on your Virginia driving record. It appears in public court record searches. Northampton County sees a fair number of reckless driving cases because U.S. Route 13 runs the length of the county and is heavily patrolled.
DUI cases under Virginia Code § 18.2-266 are also heard here. The Wednesday afternoon VASAP docket reflects how the court manages DUI-related compliance and treatment cases. A first DUI conviction carries a one-year license revocation, mandatory fines, and VASAP enrollment. Second offenses carry mandatory jail time. Records of DUI convictions in Northampton County are public and appear in the Virginia Courts case search system.
Note: Northampton County sits on Virginia's Eastern Shore. Many traffic stops along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel result in cases heard in this court, making Northampton traffic records sometimes relevant to drivers from other parts of the state.
Expungement of Northampton County Records
Under Virginia Code § 19.2-392.2, a person may petition to have a traffic charge removed from public records if the charge was dismissed, nolle prossed, or resulted in an acquittal. The petition is filed in the Circuit Court, not the General District Court. A filing fee applies and a hearing is scheduled. The court must find that keeping the record causes manifest injustice before granting the petition.
Virginia's 2021 legislative changes expanded expungement access for some misdemeanor convictions after a waiting period. Traffic infractions paid as fines typically do not qualify for expungement. But dismissed charges or cases where the conviction was set aside may be eligible. Contact a Virginia attorney familiar with Eastern Shore courts to assess whether your Northampton County record qualifies.
Nearby Counties
Northampton County is located on the southern portion of Virginia's Eastern Shore. Accomack County is the only adjoining Virginia county by land.