Can I just show up to Old Westbury Village Court with my ticket?
No. Old Westbury Village Court hears cases on Wednesday evenings by appointment only, and the court says plainly that no walk-ins will ever be accepted. You either enter a plea in writing, by mail, fax or email, or request a court date the same way, and the court will not take a plea or a date request over the phone. The clerk’s office also warns that it has a lot of tickets to schedule and a date can take a while to arrive. Decide how you are pleading before you send anything, because a written guilty plea ends the case with a conviction.
Old Westbury Village Court
Address: 1 Store Hill Road, Old Westbury, NY 11568 (courtroom next to Village Hall)
Phone: (516) 626-0809
Fax: (516) 626-1380
Clerk’s office hours: Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Court sessions: Wednesday evenings, by appointment only
Village Justice: Susan J. Schmidt-Chorost
Associate Village Justice: Peter Menoudakos
Prosecuting Attorney: Christopher Gomoka
Court Clerks: Samantha Cesario (Senior Court Clerk), Jennifer Silva (Assistant Court Clerk)
If you plead not guilty in writing before your return date, you do not have to appear on that date. The court mails you a date for a conference with the Village Prosecutor and a judge instead. Fines are paid by cash, money order or certified bank check, and personal checks are not accepted. Summonses for village ordinance violations are different: those must be answered in person on the date printed at the bottom of the summons.
Old Westbury’s Own Police Department
Old Westbury has its own village police department, headquartered in the same complex at 1 Store Hill Road as Village Hall and the court. The Nassau County Police Department lists Old Westbury, along with the SUNY College at Old Westbury campus, among the areas within its Second Precinct that are patrolled by their own police rather than by county officers.
The village court handles Vehicle and Traffic Law cases arising within the village, along with local law violations, so an Old Westbury officer’s ticket is answered here.
The Expressway, Glen Cove Road and a Lot of Young Drivers
The Long Island Expressway runs straight through Old Westbury, and Glen Cove Road and Old Westbury Road carry heavy local traffic past the estates and schools. Westbury High School and The Wheatley School both sit inside the village, and the SUNY Old Westbury campus brings in a daily stream of students driving to class.
That mix explains the charges the court sees: speeding, stop sign and red light violations, handheld phone and texting tickets, and uninsured operation. On that last charge, the court has a specific rule. For a ticket under VTL 319-1, the only proof it will accept is a letter from your insurance company stating the vehicle was insured, with no lapse in coverage, on the date on the summons. A broker’s letter or an insurance card will not do.
New and Young Drivers Carry the Most Risk
With two high schools and a college inside the village, newly licensed drivers are on these roads every school day, and for them a ticket carries sharper consequences than for anyone else.
A driver still on a probationary license faces suspension if convicted of two speeding violations, or certain other serious violations, within the six months of probation. A junior licensee who simply pays a ticket by mail can lose the right to drive before the license has really started. Parents adding a young driver to a family policy should also expect the insurer to price a conviction heavily.
Points apply to everyone: three to eleven for speeding, five for a handheld phone or for texting, three for a stop sign, red light or failure to yield. Six points within eighteen months triggers a Driver Responsibility Assessment of $100 a year for three years plus $25 a year for each point over six, and eleven points in that window can mean suspension. Commercial drivers face federal disqualification rules on top of all of it.
In every case the time to act is before the plea goes in, because the plea form is where most avoidable convictions happen.
How We Handle Old Westbury Cases
The Law Offices of Isaac Abraham works within the procedure this court has set. We enter the not guilty plea in writing, handle the scheduling so the case is placed on a Wednesday calendar, and prepare for the conference with the Village Prosecutor, where most traffic matters are resolved.
The court publishes an Attorney Appearance Waiver form, and for most traffic infractions we can appear for you. Misdemeanors such as DWI or aggravated unlicensed operation may require you to attend. For a young driver, we look first at the probationary consequences before recommending any outcome.
Our clients have left more than 2,000 five-star reviews, and the consultation is free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I plead not guilty by mail in Old Westbury?
Yes. The court accepts pleas by mail, fax or email, but never by phone. If you plead not guilty before your return date, you will be sent a date for a conference with the prosecutor and a judge.
I got a VTL 319-1 ticket for no insurance, but I was insured. What do I bring?
A letter from your insurance company, not your broker, stating that the vehicle was insured without any lapse on the date shown on the summons. The court has said that broker letters and insurance cards are not accepted.
My teenager has a probationary license and got a speeding ticket. How serious is it?
Potentially very. Two speeding convictions within the probationary period lead to suspension, so the first one matters more than it seems. Do not let them plead guilty by mail before the ticket is reviewed.
How do I pay a fine to the Old Westbury court?
By cash, money order or certified bank check, at the clerk’s office during weekday hours. Personal checks are not accepted, and parking tickets are taken only in cash or money order.
Is there really no charge for the case review?
None. We look at the summons, tell you the points and license consequences, and explain what is realistic in this court, with no obligation. Call or text 646-397-9529.
Free Case Review
Before anyone in your household signs the plea section of an Old Westbury summons, talk to us. Call or text 646-397-9529, or use the form on this page, for a free review.