The Gwinnett County Recorder's Court is the starting point for most traffic tickets written by the Gwinnett County Police Department and several other law enforcement agencies within Gwinnett County. The Gwinnett Recorder's Court was created in 1972 to hear traffic violations and various county ordinance violations in Gwinnett County. If you have a citation in Gwinnett County, you will likely start your case in the Gwinnett County Recorder's Court. But importantly, you have several options available to you if your case begin in the Recorder's Court. Speak with an attorney experienced in the Gwinnett Recorder's Court to discuss how you can best resolve your case, taking advantage of all available options.
Why is My Case in the Gwinnett County Recorder's Court?
The Gwinnett County Recorder's Court is a specialized court that can only handle certain misdemeanors and other city and county ordinance violations. Most importantly, the Gwinnett Recorder's Court does not hold jury trials. This provides some options for those charged with traffic offenses in the Gwinnett Recorder's Court. It is important that you understand these options and how to use them to ensure you find a resolution that works best for your personal situation.
For example, all traffic citations that are being heard at the Gwinnett Recorder's Court case be moved to the Gwinnett State Court. That is because in Georgia traffic offenses are considered misdemeanors that entitle you to a jury trial. Traffic tickets that start at the Gwinnett County Recorder's Court will be moved if the Defendant properly demands a jury trial. This demand must be filed with the Recorder's Court. After the demand is filed, the case will then be bound over to Gwinnett County State Court. You are not required to "bind over" your case to have a trial. Instead, it is possible to have a trial traffic ticket without a jury in Gwinnett County Recorder's Court. This would be considered a “bench trial,” since the Recorder's Court Judge will be the sole decider of guilt or innocence in place of the jury.
The decision as to whether or not to "bind over" your case for a jury trial is very specific to the facts of your case. It is important to speak with an attorney familiar with and experienced in the Gwinnett County court system. If you are interested in a free consultation to discuss how best you can resolve your Gwinnett County traffic citation give us at call at Kozycki Law: 678-664-9729.
Where is the Gwinnett County Recorder's Court Located?
The Gwinnett County Recorder's Court is located within the Gwinnett County Government Annex in Lawrenceville, Georgia. The address for the Annex is:
115 Stone Mountain Street
Lawrenceville, GA 30046-6900
If you have trouble locating the courthouse, the Recorder's Court can be reached by phone at: 1-877-794-0988
Importantly, there are several courts in Lawrenceville all in close proximity, so it is very important to double-check which court you are in. The Gwinnett County State and Superior Courts and the Lawrenceville Municipal Court are located a few blocks from the Gwinnett County Recorder's Court. Traffic citations, like speeding tickets, can be handled at all three of these locations, depending on the agency that made the arrest and how the citation was written. Many traffic tickets, like speeding citations, driving without a license, no insurance tickets, and Driving Under the Influence (DUI), that were issued by the Gwinnett County Police Department will start at the Gwinnett County Recorder's Court. Many people mistakenly go to the Lawrenceville Municipal Court and the Gwinnett County Justice and Administration Center for Gwinnett County Recorders Court cases. Check the bottom of the citation to see which court you will be required to appear before.
A large open parking lot is available on-site and offers free parking for everyone. While the parking lot is large, it does fill up, if you arrive close to the start of court (generally 8:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.), expect that you may have a longer walk from your parking space, however, spaces should still be available.
Also, it is important to know that you will need to go through a Security checkpoint. You will be required to go through a metal detector and remove all electronics from your bag. Once make it through security, you should check in with the Clerk's office which is located directly in front of you after you walk through security on the entry level. The courtrooms of the Recorder's Court are located on the second floor.
How Do I Contact the Gwinnett County Recorder's Court?
You can speak with a representative of the Court through email, on the phone, or in person. The Court is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. If you arrive at the above address, you can speak to clerks on both the first and second floors to answer your various questions. The staff is very helpful and willing to assist. In addition to in-person, you can speak with a representative over the call at (877) 794-0988. Finally, you can reach them by email at: [email protected]. Separately, the Gwinnett Recorder's Court Clerk's office has an online portal that is very easy to use and allows you to look up the status of your case. You can search for your case at the Gwinnett County Recorder's Court Clerk’s online portal.
Should I Just Pay My Fine and Avoid Going to Court?
While it is often possible for you to pay your fine ahead of your court date, this can lead to unexpected consequences that are difficult to correct. For example, several traffic citations led to automatic license suspensions, disqualifications, and revocations. Additionally, traffic offenses often lead to reports being sent to the Georgia Department of Driver Services (often referred to as the DMV or DDS) and to your insurance. A skilled traffic attorney can discuss with you options that may avoid points on your license altogether and could prevent the charge from being reported. Should you wish to just close your case, fines may be paid in person by money order, cashier's check, cash, debit, or credit card during the hours of 8:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and online payments are also accepted. However, we strongly recommend you speak with an attorney to learn what options you have.
What Should I Do if I Already Paid the Ticket Online or Otherwise Plead Guilty?
It is common for drivers to close the case without a lawyer only to learn later that their license has been suspended. All is not lost, depending on the amount of time that has passed, we can often help. If you paid your Gwinnett Traffic Ticket online, or if you entered a plea in the Gwinnett Recorder's Court without a lawyer and you were surprised by the consequences, it is important to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible because time may be limited.
Why Gwinnett County Drivers Love Working with Kozycki Law
We are Client First Focused– we know that this is a troubling time and you are looking for someone to help, Kozycki Law is built to provide client-focused representation.
Decades of Experience – while this is often your first time in court, it is important that you find someone that you trust to guide you through the process.
Avoid Going to Court – attending court is often inconvenient, nerve-wracking, and unwanted. We do everything possible to have your attendance excused and appear on your behalf.
Work Directly with Your Lawyer – our full team will be at your disposal, however, you will always have direct access to your attorney.
