Search Traffic Ticket Records in Hampshire County

Hampshire County traffic ticket records are maintained by two district courts: Northampton District Court for the western towns and Eastern Hampshire District Court for the eastern and central towns. When you need to look up a citation, pay a fine, or contest a ticket, the first step is knowing which court has your Hampshire County traffic ticket record. The town listed on the ticket tells you which court to contact.

Northampton District Court

The Northampton District Court is at 15 Gothic Street in Northampton, MA 01060. Phone: (413) 584-7400. This court handles civil motor vehicle infractions for thirteen communities: Chesterfield, Cummington, Easthampton, Goshen, Hatfield, Huntington, Middlefield, Northampton, Plainfield, Southampton, Westhampton, Williamsburg, and Worthington. The service area covers the western half of Hampshire County, stretching from the Connecticut River valley up into the hill towns.

Northampton is the county seat and the largest city in Hampshire County. Route 9 and Interstate 91 are the busiest corridors in the Northampton area, and the court handles a steady flow of speeding, red light, and other moving violation citations from both roads. The court also runs an Adult Drug Court program. Parking near the courthouse is available on metered street spaces, in the James House lot, and in the EJ Gare Garage. PVTA Routes 39, 39E, B43, M40, R42, and R44 all serve the area.

The Hampshire County Superior Court is also at 15 Gothic Street, reachable at (413) 584-5810. Both courts share the same address in downtown Northampton.

The Northampton District Court page has current contact details and directions.

If your ticket was issued in Northampton, Easthampton, or any of the surrounding western Hampshire towns, this court at 15 Gothic Street holds your record.

Eastern Hampshire District Court

The Eastern Hampshire District Court is at 205 State Street (Route 202) in Belchertown, MA 01007. Phone: (413) 213-7610. This court covers eight service areas: Amherst, Belchertown, Granby, Hadley, Pelham, South Hadley, Ware, and the MDC Quabbin Reservoir. Parking is free at this location. PVTA Route 45 provides transit service.

Amherst is the most active traffic area in the eastern district. The Five College area, which includes UMass Amherst, Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College, draws tens of thousands of students, faculty, and visitors. Routes 9, 116, and 63 are busy corridors through the academic communities, and enforcement on these roads is regular and active.

South Hadley and Hadley both sit along Route 9, which is a commercial corridor with frequent stops and turns. Ware is at the eastern edge of the county and is the gateway community approaching the Quabbin Reservoir. Citations issued anywhere in that stretch route to Belchertown.

The Eastern Hampshire District Court page has contact details and directions from Route 202.

Many drivers who get tickets in Amherst are surprised to find their court is in Belchertown rather than in town. The court assignment follows the town, not the nearest city.

How to Find and Respond to a Hampshire County Citation

Use MassCourts to look up your traffic ticket record by name or case number. The search is free. It shows you the court, the case status, and any hearings that have been scheduled. If your ticket was just issued, wait a couple of days before searching since new citations take some time to process into the system.

You have 20 days from the ticket date to respond. If you do nothing, the court issues a default and may suspend your license. Your options are to pay the fine, ask for a Clerk-Magistrate hearing ($25 fee), or ask for a hearing before a judge ($50 fee). The state explains both options on the traffic ticket hearing page. At a clerk hearing the officer often does not appear. At a judge hearing the officer is required to be there. Many tickets are dismissed at judge hearings when the officer fails to show.

You can pay online through the pay your ticket page, by mail to the court, or in person at the courthouse. Make sure you respond to the correct court. Paying or filing at the wrong court will not satisfy the 20-day requirement. Use the town on your citation to identify the right court before you act.

The Massachusetts RMV maintains your driving record, which includes all surchargeable events. You can request a copy at $8 for unattested or $20 for attested through the RMV driving record page.

Fines, Surcharges, and License Suspension Rules

Speeding 1 to 10 mph over the limit costs $50. Going 11 or more mph over costs $50 plus $10 for each mph above 10. A mandatory $50 Head Injury Assessment surcharge is added to every traffic ticket. That surcharge cannot be waived. So a basic speeding ticket runs at least $100 total.

The hands-free phone law took effect February 23, 2020. First offense: $100. Second: $250. Third and later: $500 each. Three speeding violations within 12 months triggers a 30-day license suspension under MGL c. 90, section 20. Four convictions can mean a four-year suspension as a habitual offender under MGL c. 90, section 22F. The multiple offense suspension page explains the thresholds. All traffic statutes fall under MGL Chapter 90.

Hampshire County includes five college campuses, which means a significant portion of the driving population is young and may be at higher risk for license points under the junior operator laws. Those rules can be stricter for drivers under 18.

Cities in Hampshire County

No cities in Hampshire County currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated page. Northampton is the largest city in the county. For traffic ticket records in any Hampshire County community, use the court information above or search MassCourts directly.

Nearby Counties

Hampshire County is in the Pioneer Valley. Check the town on your ticket to confirm the right county and court if you are near a border.