Bayonne Municipal Court – What To Know
Reviewed by William A. Proetta, Esq. · Updated
Bayonne Municipal Court is on the second floor of City Hall at 630 Avenue C. It sits Monday through Thursday, runs hybrid sessions with a mix of in-person and video cases, and handles traffic and parking matters, DWI charges, local ordinance violations and disorderly persons offenses. Indictable charges go to Hudson County Superior Court in Jersey City. William Proetta Criminal Law defends Bayonne cases from our Jersey City office, about 15 minutes away. Call (201) 793-8018 for a free case review. We answer 24/7, and se habla español.
Bayonne Municipal Court
630 Avenue C, Bayonne, NJ 07002
Telephone: 201-858-6934
Court Staff & Contacts
Municipal Court JudgesCheryl Cashman, J.M.C.
Christopher Patella, J.M.C.
Chistie Gonzalez
Municipal ProsecutorsTimothy Moriarty, Esq.
Steven Hummell, Esq.
Court Calendar & Office Hours
Published Court SessionsMonday–Friday: 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (NJ Judiciary directory).
Check the official court page and appearance instructions →
Your summons or latest court notice controls your date, time, courtroom and whether you attend in person or virtually.
Parking & Arrival
All parking for Bayonne Municipal Court is street parking with paid meters on Avenue C or on cross streets such as 26th and 27th Streets.
When to arrive: Allow approximately 20–30 minutes before any required in-person appearance for parking, security and check-in. This is practical planning advice, not a court-mandated arrival time.
Courthouse Map
This map shows the courthouse location. Use the directions link to plan your visit.
Use your latest court notice to confirm the date, time, and appearance instructions for your case. Office hours and regular session days don’t tell you when you must appear. If a notice is missing or unclear, call the court with your ticket or complaint number ready.
Bayonne Court by the Numbers
Bayonne Court Filings, Case Resolutions and Overall Caseload
Court performance
Source: New Jersey Judiciary, Municipal Court Statistics, July 2025–June 2026, PDF page 250. Figures are reported by court, not necessarily by the arresting police agency or a defendant's town of residence. Total filings include parking tickets. Criminal filings use the report’s Criminal Total column. A clearance rate above 100% means more cases were resolved than newly filed during the period; it is not a conviction rate. These figures are a reporting-period snapshot, not live court data.
What Bayonne’s Court Numbers Mean
Bayonne’s filing total needs context. From July 2025 through June 2026, the New Jersey Judiciary reported 152,020 filings in Bayonne Municipal Court. Of those, 133,968 were parking filings, about 88% of the total. The rest included 13,463 moving violations, 4,530 criminal filings, and 59 DWI filings. The overall total isn’t the number of criminal arrests in Bayonne.
The 104% clearance rate means the court resolved more matters than were newly filed during that period, including older cases carried over. It doesn’t measure how many defendants were convicted or how many charges were dismissed, and it doesn’t predict the outcome or length of any individual case.
What to Expect at Bayonne Municipal Court
There are usually two security points. The first is in the main lobby when you walk in downstairs, where you may also be asked to sign in. From there, turn right to the elevators and go up to the second floor.
When you step off the elevator, the restrooms are on your right. Between the restrooms and the courtroom is a posted calendar of the day’s cases, with each case given a number. Find your number and remember it, because that is how you check in. A police officer runs the second security checkpoint, with a metal detector, outside the courtroom.
Inside, check in using your case number. The prosecutor’s room is at the back of the courtroom, on the right as you walk in, and the prosecutor meets with one attorney or self-represented defendant at a time. Bayonne has two municipal prosecutors who split the calendars: Steven Hummell usually handles DWI cases, and Timothy Moriarty usually handles criminal matters. If you have a lawyer, your attorney handles that meeting for you, already knowing the evidence, and works toward a dismissal, downgrade or plea.
Charges Heard in Bayonne Municipal Court
Criminal cases at a Bayonne session are mostly disorderly persons charges such as simple assault, disorderly conduct, harassment, shoplifting and theft under $200, defiant trespass, criminal mischief, resisting arrest and drug paraphernalia. Read every complaint issued from the incident, since related charges can carry separate consequences and can land in more than one court.
Traffic Tickets and DWI Charges in Bayonne
Parking tickets, moving violations, and DWI charges follow different procedures:
- Payable tickets. If your ticket allows payment without an appearance, you can pay at NJMCdirect.com. Paying is a guilty plea, so any points, MVC surcharges, and insurance increases still apply. If you want to contest it, request a court date or check whether it’s eligible for online resolution, where you can request a plea offer.
- Appearance required. DWI, refusal, and tickets marked “court appearance required” go before the judge.
- One incident, several tickets. An online option for one ticket doesn’t mean every charge from the same stop can be handled that way.
DWI and refusal cases are covered on our Bayonne DWI lawyer page, and our Hudson County traffic ticket guide covers suspended-license, uninsured-driver and reckless-driving tickets.
Understanding Your Bayonne Municipal Court Summons
A Bayonne summons contains important information about the alleged offense including, the statute charged, the person or officer who issued the complaint, the location of court and when you are required to appear. The numbered areas below identify information worth carefully reviewing.
Key Information to Check
Court and Court Code
This identifies the municipality and court associated with the summons. For a case arising in Bayonne, look carefully at the court information printed on your paperwork.
Summons or Complaint Number
This number identifies the individual summons or complaint. It may be needed when communicating with the municipal court or reviewing court records.
Complainant or Issuing Officer
The summons may identify the police officer or other complainant who issued or signed the charge, along with the involved police agency.
Date, Time and Location
These fields identify when and where the alleged offense occurred. They can also help identify potentially relevant police reports, video or other evidence.
Court Date and Time
Your summons may contain an initial appearance date. A later notice from the court can change that date or the manner in which the appearance will occur.
Where to Appear
Review the court location and appearance instructions carefully. Some proceedings may be conducted in person while others may be scheduled remotely.
Municipal Court Code: 0901
630 Avenue C, Bayonne, NJ 07002
Keep copies of every summons, complaint, and later court notice. When you contact the court, use the number on the relevant document so staff can find the right case. Make sure the court has your current address, phone, and email so you get scheduling updates.
Preparing for an In-Person or Virtual Appearance
Bayonne holds court both in person and virtually, with virtual sessions on Zoom. Follow the instructions for your assigned session.
Virtual appearances:
- Test your connection beforehand and stay in one location. You can’t appear from a moving vehicle.
- Keep your microphone muted until your case is called, then identify yourself.
- No eating or smoking during the session, unless medically necessary.
- Recording requires prior written permission from the court.
In-person appearances:
- Allow time to get through the entrance and find the courtroom. The court information above covers parking.
- Bring your notices and any relevant documents.
- No weapons in the courtroom or municipal building. No food, drinks, or gum in the courtroom. Turn your phone off.
- The building is accessible for people with disabilities and hearing impairments.
Before your date, watch the opening statement video on the city’s Prepare for Court resources. It’s available in English and Spanish and explains your rights and courtroom procedure.
When a Charge Leaves Bayonne
Most drug possession charges, along with aggravated assault, burglary and theft over $200, are indictable. They start with a Bayonne complaint but are prosecuted by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office in Hudson County Superior Court in Jersey City. If your paperwork lists an indictable charge, confirm where that case is pending before relying on municipal court instructions; some charges are later downgraded and sent back to Bayonne. For penalty ranges and programs that can avoid a conviction, see which Hudson County court hears your case and ways to avoid a conviction in Hudson County. We also handle cases in nearby Jersey City and Hoboken.
Reviewing a Bayonne Case for Expungement
Expungement eligibility depends on the actual charge, how it was resolved, and your full record. A dismissed complaint and a conviction aren’t the same situation, and no single waiting period applies to every case. In general, dismissed charges can often be expunged right away, and many disorderly persons convictions become eligible after five years. DWI and traffic offenses can’t be expunged.
Gather the complaint number, the charge, and the final disposition before checking eligibility. Our Hudson County expungement guide explains the records review and application process.
Bayonne Municipal Court FAQs
How do I check in at Bayonne Municipal Court?
Find your case on the calendar posted on the second floor, between the restrooms and the courtroom. Each case has a number. Remember yours, because that is how you check in once you are inside the courtroom.
Is Bayonne Municipal Court in person or virtual?
Both. Bayonne runs hybrid sessions, with some cases heard in person and others by video on Zoom. Your latest notice says which applies to you.
Who are the prosecutors in Bayonne Municipal Court?
Bayonne has two municipal prosecutors who split the calendars. Steven Hummell usually handles DWI cases and Timothy Moriarty usually handles criminal matters. The prosecutor meets with one attorney or self-represented defendant at a time in a room at the back of the courtroom.
Is a Bayonne parking ticket a criminal charge?
No. Parking tickets are not criminal charges and don’t create a criminal record. They make up about 88% of Bayonne Municipal Court’s filings. Unpaid parking tickets can still lead to a license or registration suspension, so don’t ignore them.
What is the Bayonne Municipal Court code?
0901. You’ll see it on court notices and may need it when paying a ticket or looking up a case online.
Can I dispute a Bayonne ticket online?
Some eligible tickets can be resolved through NJMCdirect’s online resolution system, where you can request a plea offer or enter a plea online. Not every charge qualifies, and an online option for one ticket doesn’t mean every charge from the same incident qualifies. If you’re unsure, talk to a lawyer before entering any plea.
Talk to a Bayonne Criminal Defense Lawyer Today
The earlier we get involved, the more options you have. Call (201) 793-8018 for a free, confidential case review. Available 24/7 — se habla español.