Municipal Court

Jurisdiction

The Ocean Township Municipal Court is located in Town Hall, 309 Monmouth Road in Oakhurst. It is the first court to deal with all motor vehicle and criminal complaints within the Township. It hears non-indictable cases, including disorderly persons offenses, violations of Township ordinances, and all motor vehicle summonses including D.W.I. violations.

More serious, indictable complaints filed in the Municipal Court are forwarded to the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office for disposition or remand. Domestic violence complaints are transferred to the Family Division of the Superior Court.

Complaint Resolution Committee

The Township of Ocean Complaint Resolution Committee is set up to avoid court action in non-violent neighborhood disputes. It is staffed by volunteer mediators trained by the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). The mediators work to bring disputing parties to an amicable agreement, allowing the judge to dismiss the court action.

Municipal Judge and Township Attorney

The Municipal Judge

Attorneys who are New Jersey residents and have practiced law for at least five years may be appointed to three year terms as Municipal Court Judges by the Mayor, with the advice and consent of the council. Municipal Court Judges do not have tenure and are not subject to a mandatory retirement age, characteristics which distinguish them from other Judges in the Judiciary. The majority of the state's Municipal Court Judges serve only part‐time and, as a result, are able to maintain private law practices, subject to the Rules of Court.

The Municipal Attorney

[TBD]

Shared Services

West Long Branch contracts with Ocean Township for the use of its Municipal Court facilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Municipal Court handicapped accessible?
Yes. If you will need additional assistance, please contact the court prior to your appearance.

I want to sign a complaint. How is this done?
The Municipal Court accepts for filing all complaints. In order to sign a complaint for an offense that occurred within the jurisdiction of Ocean Township, [need procedure]

You should have the following information with you:
- Name and address of the accused.
- Time and date of the offense.
- Statute number relating to the offense.
- License plate number and description of the motor vehicle if the complaint is a traffic summons.
- A brief description of the incident.

I need to change my court date. How is this done?
You must call the court to request an adjournment. If you need the date changed due to work/school conflict, documentation must be provided.

Adjournments are not granted on the date you are to appear. In the case of an emergency, documentation and/or a doctor’s note will be required.

Adjournments are not granted for arraignments of indictable matters or for serious motor vehicle summonses issued for D.W.I. (39:4-‐50), driving while suspended (39:3-‐40) or uninsured motor vehicle (39:6B-‐2) without a letter of representation from an attorney.
I need an attorney but can’t afford one. Can I be represented by the Public Defender?
In order to be eligible you must be charged with a consequence of magnitude and your income must fall within the guidelines established. If you want to be represented by the Public Defender you must make application to the court. An application will be given to you at your arraignment. You will fill it out and the Judge will determine if you are eligible. If approved, there may be a fee assessed.

Can the Court recommend an Attorney?
No. The court is not permitted to recommend an attorney. You may, however, call the Monmouth County Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral Service at 732-431-5544.

I received a subpoena to testify from the court. Do I have to appear?
Yes. A subpoena requires your appearance in court. The Judge may find you in contempt or issue a warrant for your arrest if you fail to appear.

I have posted bail for myself or someone else. When do I get it back?
Bail is a guarantee that the defendant will appear at each court session as scheduled. If the defendant misses any session, the bail may be forfeited. Bail is returned when the case is completed. You may either pick it up or it will be mailed directly to you. If you post bail for someone else and you wish to apply the money to his or her fines and costs, you must be present to sign the bail over to the court.

I have a warrant for my arrest. What do I do?
You may post bail at any municipal court or at any police department in New Jersey. New court dates will not be given until bail is posted.

Why did the Judge order me to pay more than the amount indicated on the ticket?
The amounts indicated on the tickets are the amounts due if paid through the Violations Bureau. The Judge abides by the minimums and maximums as outlined in the statute.

When does my ticket have to be paid?
Tickets must be paid by the court date indicated on the bottom of the summons.

How many points does my ticket have?
Most moving violations have points assessed by the Motor Vehicle Commission (formerly DMV). You may inquire with them at 609-292-6500 or log onto the New Jersey Point System Information Schedule. The court does not assess points.

The officer said I could pay this ticket. Why do I have to appear in court?
Only the violations listed on the Statewide Violations Bureau Schedule are payable without a court appearance as long as the officer did not check off the “court appearance required” box at the bottom of your ticket. If the violation is court appearance required and not checked by officer, the court will send notice of court appearance.

I would like to plead guilty to a lesser charge. What do I do?
You must call the court to enter a “not guilty” plea. Your case will be scheduled to be heard in court. The day of your appearance you may speak to the Prosecutor before speaking to the Judge.

I am paying by mail but I need a receipt. What do I do?
Send a self-‐addressed, stamped envelope and a receipt will be mailed to you.

My license was suspended because I did not pay my ticket. How do I take care of this?
You must call the court to find out the amount due. After you pay the ticket you will have to take your receipt to the Motor Vehicle Commission. They will assess you a $100.00 restoration fee to reinstate your driving privilege.

If the amount payable is not shown on the back of the summons, how do I know how much to pay?
You can either call the Court for the correct amount or log onto www.njmcdirect.com.