Hampton Roads Courts
Which court handles a traffic case in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Hampton and York County — and what a magistrate's office does not.
5 guides
Virginia has no court called a "traffic court." Under Va. Code § 16.1-123.1, the General District Court of the city or county where a traffic offense happened has exclusive original jurisdiction over it, along with every other misdemeanor and traffic infraction from that locality. Hampton Roads is mostly independent cities rather than one surrounding county, so each city runs its own General District Court, and a search for "Portsmouth traffic court" or "Hampton traffic court" is really a search for that city's General District Court.
Two exceptions are worth knowing before you assume which court has a case. A driver under 18 is charged in the juvenile and domestic relations district court, not the General District Court (§ 16.1-241). And a magistrate's office — several Hampton Roads cities have one — is not a court at all: a magistrate issues criminal warrants and summonses and sets bail, but does not hear or decide a traffic case.
All guides
- Newport News Traffic Division of the General District Court
Newport News General District Court runs a dedicated Traffic Division. What it handles, how a case moves through it, and how to appeal.
- Portsmouth General District Court, Explained
Portsmouth General District Court hears every traffic and misdemeanor case from the city. What it handles, and how to appeal a conviction.
- Hampton Traffic Court: How a Case Actually Runs
Hampton traffic court means Hampton General District Court. What it handles, when a charge is reduced to improper driving, and how appeals work.
- What the Hampton Magistrate's Office Actually Does
The Hampton magistrate's office issues warrants, summonses and bail decisions. It does not hold trials. How it differs from the General District Court.
- Yorktown General District Court: York County's Traffic Court
Yorktown General District Court is officially York General District Court, which also serves the City of Poquoson. What it handles and how to appeal.