Search Powhatan County Traffic Court Records

Powhatan County traffic court records are kept by the General District Court at 3880 Old Buckingham Rd. in Powhatan. As part of the 11th Judicial District, the court handles all traffic violations within the county, from speeding citations to reckless driving and DUI charges. Three judges preside over the General District Court, and Clerk Teresa Hash Dobbins manages the office. Whether you want to search a case online or get certified copies of court documents, this page explains how to access Powhatan County traffic court records.

Powhatan County General District Court

The Powhatan County General District Court is at 3880 Old Buckingham Rd., Suite C, Powhatan, VA 23139. The phone is (804) 598-5660 and the fax is (804) 598-5608. Clerk Teresa Hash Dobbins runs the office. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. The court has three judges: Hon. Thomas Stark IV is both the Presiding and Chief Judge, Hon. Kenneth A. Blalock, and Hon. Brian H. Jones. All traffic violations, misdemeanor charges, and civil claims up to $25,000 are decided here without a jury.

The Circuit Court for Powhatan County is at 3880-D Old Buckingham Road, just steps from the General District Court. The Circuit Court phone is (804) 598-5665. Clerk Lamar Maurice Crockett oversees Circuit Court operations, which run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The Circuit Court handles felony traffic charges and appeals from the General District Court. If a defendant appeals a traffic conviction decided in the General District Court, the case moves to the Circuit Court for a new trial. The Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court is also at the same courthouse complex and handles juvenile traffic matters separately.

Note: The 11th Judicial District also serves Amelia, Dinwiddie, Nottoway, and Petersburg. Powhatan County cases are heard by judges who also serve those other localities in the district.

Search Powhatan County Traffic Records Online

Virginia offers free online case lookup for Powhatan County traffic records through vacourts.gov/caseinfo. Choose General District Court, select Powhatan County, and enter the defendant's name or case number. The portal returns case type, charge description, court date, and outcome. Most cases from recent years are in the system. No account or login is required to run a search.

The Virginia Judicial System at vacourts.gov provides access to Powhatan County court records across all court levels, including the General District Court traffic docket.

Use vacourts.gov/caseinfo to search Powhatan County traffic records. The statewide system includes all General District Court dockets across Virginia's 95 counties.

For certified copies or records not available in the online system, contact the clerk's office at (804) 598-5660. You can request records in person at Suite C during business hours, or mail a written request to 3880 Old Buckingham Rd., Suite C, Powhatan, VA 23139. Include the case number, defendant name, type of document needed, and a check or money order for the applicable copy fee.

Traffic Violations in Powhatan County

Virginia traffic law under Title 46.2 of the Code of Virginia applies to all motor vehicle violations in Powhatan County. Speeding is the most common charge. Fines depend on how much a driver exceeds the posted limit. The threshold for reckless driving is 20 mph over the limit or 85 mph regardless of the limit, as set out in § 46.2-862. That turns a speeding ticket into a Class 1 misdemeanor with potential criminal consequences.

Reckless driving under § 46.2-852 is serious. The conviction stays on a permanent criminal record, not just a driving record. It carries up to 12 months in jail, a $2,500 fine, and six demerit points in Virginia. Powhatan County sits along U.S. Route 60, State Route 13, and other roads that see regular patrol activity by the Powhatan County Sheriff's Office and Virginia State Police. Reckless driving cases are a routine part of the General District Court docket in Powhatan.

DUI cases under Virginia Code § 18.2-266 are also handled in the General District Court. The first DUI conviction triggers a one-year license revocation and mandatory VASAP enrollment. Repeat offenses carry mandatory jail time. All DUI case records are public. They appear in the Virginia Courts case search and can affect insurance, employment, and professional licensing.

Civil jurisdiction in Powhatan County extends to claims up to $25,000. The General District Court also hears preliminary hearings for felony traffic charges before those cases move to the Circuit Court. Records of all these proceedings are kept by Clerk Teresa Hash Dobbins and her staff at the courthouse on Old Buckingham Road.

Paying Traffic Fines in Powhatan County

Virginia provides an online payment option for qualifying traffic fines through the Virginia Courts self-help portal. You need your case number to pay online. Not every violation qualifies. Reckless driving and DUI require a court appearance and cannot be prepaid. If you are not sure whether your Powhatan County charge qualifies for online payment, call (804) 598-5660 before your court date.

In-person payment is accepted at Suite C on Old Buckingham Road during business hours, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Mail-in payments are accepted as well. Send a check or money order made out to the court along with your summons or case number to 3880 Old Buckingham Rd., Suite C, Powhatan, VA 23139. Give yourself enough lead time before the court date when mailing. If you miss a court date without paying or appearing, a failure to appear charge follows, along with a possible capias warrant and license suspension through Virginia DMV.

Expungement of Powhatan County Traffic Records

Under Virginia Code § 19.2-392.2, a person may petition to expunge a Powhatan County traffic charge if it was dismissed, nolle prossed, or resulted in an acquittal. The petition goes to the Circuit Court at 3880-D Old Buckingham Road in Powhatan. A filing fee applies, and a hearing is scheduled. The Circuit Court must find that keeping the record causes manifest injustice before granting the expungement petition.

Virginia's 2021 legislative changes opened a path for sealing some misdemeanor convictions after a waiting period under certain conditions. Simple traffic fines paid without a court appearance generally do not qualify. But if a Powhatan County misdemeanor traffic charge was dismissed, reduced, or resulted in an acquittal, expungement is worth pursuing. A Virginia attorney familiar with Powhatan County courts can review your record and determine whether a petition has a reasonable chance of success.

Nearby Counties

Powhatan County is in the 11th Judicial District and sits west of Richmond, bordering several central Virginia counties.