Village Court

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Justices

Honorable Christian Pelchar
Honorable Andrew Smith (Acting Village Justice)

Court Clerk

Angela-Jo Dennison
Telephone: (607) 734-7156 Option #2
Fax (607) 240-5387
Mailing Address

Elmira Heights Village Court
215 Elmwood Ave
Elmira Heights, New York 14903

Office Hours (Weekly)

Tuesday: 9 am – 4 pm

Wednesday: 9 am – 4 pm
Thursday: 9 am – 11 am
Except Holidays (Call the Court Clerk to verify Office is open)

Court Schedule

Court is held every Wednesday evening at 5:00PM
Except Holidays (Call the Court Clerk to verify Court will be in session)

Methods of Payment For Fines/Fees/Surcharges/Bail/Civil Fees

Payments will be accepted in cash, money order, certified bank check or credit card (in person). The court will direct you to make full payment by a specific date. This court does not accept partial payment. If payment is made by mail you must include a self-addressed stamped envelope if you wish to receive the receipt. Failure to pay the assessed fines/surcharges on Vehicle & Traffic Law charges will result in the suspension of your New York driving privileges.

Vehicle and Traffic Law Charges

If you receive a traffic citation (ticket) in the Village of Elmira Heights, your scheduled appearance date appears at the lower left side of your E-ticket.

If the offense charged is a traffic violation you can enter a plea of guilty, or not guilty by mail by completing the appropriate section (Part A if pleading Guilty) (Part B if Pleading Not Guilty) on the right side of your E-ticket and mailing it to the court prior to your scheduled Court appearance date. You may also appear personally in Court at the scheduled time to plead to your charge.

  • If you plea guilty by mail, the Court will send you a fine notice by mail indicating the fine and when it is due.
  • If you plea not guilty by mail, the Court will schedule a non-jury, or bench trial and notify you of the trial date by letter.

If you mail your E-ticket to the Court without entering a plea of guilty or not guilty, or do not sign the citation, the citation will be returned to you. If you fail to enter a plea by mail OR fail to appear on the scheduled Court appearance date, the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles will be notified to suspend your driving privileges.

If the offense is a Misdemeanor, or Felony, you MUST appear in person at Village Court to be arraigned on the charges.

Criminal Charges

Criminal charges usually involve charges based on the New York State Penal Law or Criminal Procedure Law. Violation and Misdemeanor charges can be prosecuted in this Court. Felony charges are usually transferred to County Court after arraignment in this Court.

Village Code Charges

Village Code charges involve charges based on the Elmira Heights Village Code. They are fully prosecuted in this Court.

Summary Proceedings (Evictions)

This Court can hear evictions for Non-Payment Proceedings (Evictions for non-payment of rent only) or Holdover Proceedings (Evictions for any other ground other than non-payment of rent). You will be required to provide the properly completed necessary forms and pay a filing fee of $20. You will also be required to serve the papers legally.

Small Claims

Small Claims Court is an informal court where individuals can sue for money only, up to $3,000. Anyone over 18 years of age can bring an action in Small Claims Court. Corporations, partnerships, associations, or assignees cannot sue in Small Claims Court, but can be sued.

You will be required to pay a filing fee of $10.00 if your claim is for $1,000 or less and a filing fee of $15.00 if your claim is for more than $1,000.

The Court provides the Small Claims Form, notifies the defendant of the Small Claim action and the date of the hearing.

If you have filed a small claim and have resolved the matter prior to the court hearing, you should notify the court, in writing, immediately. Only the individual that filed the claim can withdraw the matter.

Prosecution Attorneys

All Felony, Misdemeanor, Vehicle and Traffic Law and any other State charge is prosecuted by the Chemung County District Attorney’s Office located at 210 Lake Street, PO Box 588 in Elmira, NY, 14902 (Phone: 607–737–2944).

All Village Code, Village Ordinance and any local law charge is prosecuted by the Village Attorney who can be contacted through the Elmira Heights Village Clerk’s Office at 215 Elmwood Ave in Elmira Heights, NY 14903 (Phone: 607–734–7156).