Frequently Asked Questions - All FAQs

There are no jury trials in the Municipal Court. At the trial date, the Judge will take testimony from all witnesses under oath. The Defendant and his or her lawyer, if represented, will sit at one table. The Prosecutor will sit at the other table. Witnesses may be asked to stay outside the courtroom until it is their turn to testify. The Prosecutor will go first and will present any witnesses or evidence needed to prove the charge against the Defendant. Each witness will either swear or affirm to tell the truth. As each witness for the prosecution testifies, the Defendant or his or her lawyer, if represented, will have an opportunity to ask questions about what was testified to. This is called cross-examination.

Once the prosecution is finished, it will be the Defendant's turn. The Defendant can present witnesses or other evidence to disprove the Prosecutor's case. The Defendant does not have to provide any information and does not have to testify. It is up to the prosecution to prove the case "beyond a reasonable doubt."

When all the witnesses have testified, the Defendant or his or her lawyer may tell the Judge why the case was not proven against the Defendant.

The Judge, after hearing all the testimony and witnesses, will make the decision whether the case has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt. If the Judge finds the Defendant "Not Guilty," the case is over.

If the Judge finds the Defendant "Guilty," the Judge will sentence the Defendant.

 

Fines

The Judge must follow the law in deciding the amount of any fine imposed.  Sometimes there are minimum penalties and mandatory assessments that must be imposed by law.  Fines are generally expected to be paid at the time they are imposed.

The Judge may allow the fine to be paid in installments if he or she is satisfied that payment cannot be made in full.  You may apply for partial payments by filling out a form.  The Judge will then make a decision about your payment arrangements.  You will sign a court order that will explain the terms of your payments.  Failure to comply with this order can result in a warrant for your arrest and/or suspension of your driving privileges.

Jail

The maximum jail term that can be imposed for offenses heard in the municipal court is six months.  Sentences are served at the Atlantic County Justice Facility or Cape May County Corrections Center.

License Suspension

Many offenses require suspensions for a minimum period.  You cannot drive for any reason until the period of suspension ends, you have paid your restoration fee, and have received written notification from the Division of Motor Vehicles that your driving privileges have been restored.  If your license has been suspended for failure to appear, pay fines, or comply with a condition of your sentence, generally it will not be restored until your case is completed.  Conditional or special work licenses are not allowed in New Jersey.

Intoxicated Driver Resource Center (IDRC)

If convicted of DWI or refusal to take a Breathalyzer, the court must order attendance at the Intoxicated Driver Resource Center, where the Defendant must satisfy the screening, evaluation, referral program and fee requirements.  Failure to comply with the IRDC guidelines will result in further court action.

Community Service

By law, the Judge must order community service for certain traffic offenses and may order community service for a criminal conviction.  The Defendant must work for a municipality or non-profit organization for a certain period of time without compensation.  Failure to perform community service will result in the case being returned to court.

Points/Surcharges

In addition to the penalties imposed by the court for moving traffic violations, the Division of Motor Vehicles will also assess points on driving records.  Most violations result in two points, but it can be as high as eight for a single offense.  The New Jersey Department of Insurance may also assess surcharges on insurance payments. 

The Judge, Court Administrator, or a police officer may suggest that the parties try to settle their differences through mediation. This is a confidential process which allows the parties to meet with a mediator who will aid them in resolving their dispute. You may request mediation before your court date, and the court will decide if your case is eligible. Often mediation takes place on the same day as court. If this is not possible, a future date will be assigned. You may request mediation instead of filing a formal complaint.

Please notify court staff as soon as possible if you need a foreign language or sign interpreter. Please be sure to include in your notification any special language dialect required.

This procedure allows Defendants charged with certain drug offenses to be monitored for a period of time determined by the court. The Judge may require the Defendant to attend drug counseling and have random drug tests. To be eligible, a Defendant must have:

 

If granted a conditional discharge, the Defendant must pay mandatory assessments, and the Judge may suspend his or her driving privileges. If during the monitoring period no additional offenses have been committed, and there is compliance with all conditions (including satisfying all financial obligations), the original charges will be dismissed.

Bail is the money or property deposited with the court to obtain the temporary release of a Defendant on the condition that the Defendant will appear in court at every stage of the proceedings until final disposition. (This can be a dismissal, a plea of guilty or a finding of guilty or not guilty.)

 

Checks and money orders are generally accepted for bail, but must be made payable to the respective court on the warrant. The identification of the person posting bail must match the name and address printed on the check. Checks are not permitted to be accepted on certain charges.

 

Bail may be forfeited if the Defendant fails to appear for any court date and a warrant may be reissued. It is important that the person who is released on bail knows the exact date and time of his or her court date and appears at that time.

 

Bail can only be returned to the person who posted it. The bail receipt should be brought to court to expedite the return of bail. It may be possible to apply the bail to any fines or assessments that are imposed by the court if the owner of the bail agrees.

 

In some minor traffic offenses, a bail waiver may be signed. In this instance, the Defendant enters a guilty plea, gives up his or her right to a trial and authorizes the court to apply the bail posted against fines and costs owed.

If you do not agree with the court's decision, you may appeal to the Superior Court. The appeal does not involve a new trial. No new testimony or new witnesses may be considered. The Superior Court reviews the transcript of the Municipal Court Judge, and will reverse the decision only if there has been a mistake made regarding the facts or the law.

 

An appeal must be filed within 20 calendar days of the Municipal Court Judge's decision. A filing fee and transcript deposit is due at that time. Upon request, the Court Administrator will supply all of the necessary forms to be filed with the court office to appeal the decision. You may request that your penalty be stayed (put on hold) pending the appeal. The Municipal Court Judge will decide whether or not to do so.

To obtain a certified copy of a Birth, Marriage, Domestic Partnership, Civil Union or Death Record occurring in Galloway Township, please send a written request with a copy of Photo ID (Valid Driver’s License) showing address or Photo ID without address and one (1) other form of ID showing shipping address or alternate forms of ID showing shipping address. Galloway Township will only ship to the address on the ID.

 

Stormwater flows directly into our rivers, lakes, streams and the ocean or into a stormwater system through a storm drain.

 

Storm drains are frequently located in parking lots and along the curbs of roadways. The grate that prevents larger objects from flowing into the storm sewer system is called a catch basin. Once below ground, the stormwater flows through pipes, which lead to an outfall where the stormwater usually enters a stream, river or lake.

 

In some areas, the outfall may lead to a stormwater management basin. These basins control the flow and improve the quality of stormwater, depending on how they are designed. They can also recharge groundwater systems.

 

In some urban areas of the state, the stormwater and sanitary sewer systems may be combined. Here both stormwater and sewage from households and businesses travel together in the same pipes and are treated at sewage treatment plants except during heavy rains. During these occasions, both the stormwater and untreated sewage exceed the capacity of the treatment plant, and this overflow is directed into local waterways.

Urbanization and increasing commercial and residential development have a great impact on local water resources. More impervious surfaces (roads, rooftops, parking lots and other hard surfaces that do not allow stormwater to soak into the ground) increase the rate of stormwater runoff. This means a greater volume of water carrying pollution into surface waters and less water soaking into the ground. These contaminants include litter; cigarette butts and other debris from sidewalks; motor oil poured into storm sewers; settled air pollutants; pet wastes; yard wastes; and pesticides and fertilizers from lawn care. Less water soaking into the ground also lowers ground water levels, which can dry up streams and hurt stream ecosystems, and can reduce the supply of well water.