Carteret Municipal Court — What to Expect and How to Prepare
Reviewed by William A. Proetta, Esq. · Updated
Criminal and Traffic Ticket Attorneys for Carteret NJ
Carteret Municipal Court sits inside Carteret Police Department headquarters on Roosevelt Avenue and holds its sessions on Monday evenings at 6:00 p.m. It hears the borough’s DWI and motor vehicle cases, disorderly persons and petty disorderly persons offenses, and ordinance violations, including tickets written near Turnpike Interchange 12. William Proetta Criminal Law, with over 15 years of criminal trial experience, defends Carteret cases from our Edison office. Call (732) 659-9600 for a free case review, 24/7. Se habla español.
Indictable crimes that begin with a Carteret arrest are sent to the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office and Superior Court in New Brunswick. Our Middlesex County criminal defense page explains how those cases proceed.
Carteret Municipal Court is inside the Police Department Building at 230 Roosevelt Avenue, Carteret, New Jersey 07008. The court office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., with different hours in summer, and court sits on Monday evenings at 6:00 p.m.
Carteret Municipal Court
230 Roosevelt Avenue, Carteret, NJ 07008
Telephone: 732-541-3900
Email: Carteret.mc@njcourts.gov
Court Staff & Contacts
Municipal Court JudgesAllan P. Comba
Angela Pastor
Jennifer Rios
Deputy Court AdministratorSusan Gadecki
Municipal ProsecutorSamuel Freiheiter\Chirag Mehta
Court Email Court Fax732-541-0581
Court TelephoneCourt Calendar & Office Hours
Published Court SessionsMonday evenings at 6:00 p.m. Confirm the date and appearance method on your summons or latest court notice.
Regular hours
Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Summer hours
Monday – Thursday: 8:00 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 1:45 p.m.
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
Court is located in the Police Department building at 230 Roosevelt Avenue. It is a small parking lot and the visitor-parking fills up quick during court sessions. Overflow parking can be found on Roosevelt Avenue or on nearby sides streets such as Irving Street. Plan to arrive early and allow extra time for security screening and check-in at the court violations window.
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.
Criminal and Traffic Cases Heard in Carteret Municipal Court
Carteret Municipal Court hears the borough’s lower-level criminal and motor vehicle cases. The motor vehicle charges we defend there include DWI (N.J.S.A. 39:4-50), refusal to submit to breath testing (N.J.S.A. 39:4-50.4a), reckless driving (N.J.S.A. 39:4-96), careless driving (N.J.S.A. 39:4-97) and driving while suspended (N.J.S.A. 39:3-40). The criminal and disorderly persons charges include shoplifting (N.J.S.A. 2C:20-11), simple assault (N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1), disorderly conduct (N.J.S.A. 2C:33-2), drug possession (N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10) and drug paraphernalia (N.J.S.A. 2C:36-2).
The court also hears fish and game and boating violations, which come up in a borough bordered by the Arthur Kill and the Rahway River, along with county and municipal ordinance offenses.
An indictable charge, such as aggravated assault, burglary, theft over $200 or possession with intent to distribute, may start with a Carteret arrest, but it is prosecuted by the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office in Superior Court in New Brunswick. If the charge is downgraded, it returns to Carteret’s Monday calendar.
Understanding Your Carteret Municipal Court Summons
A Carteret 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 Carteret, 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.
Municipality / Court Code: 1201
230 Roosevelt Avenue, Carteret, NJ 07008
The summons should always be reviewed together with any later notice issued by the court. A subsequent notice may change the date, time, courtroom or whether the appearance will be conducted in person or virtually.
What Happens After You Receive a Summons in Carteret?
The procedure depends on the type of charge.
A person may receive a motor vehicle summons, complaint-summons or other charging document requiring an appearance in Carteret Municipal Court. After the case begins, the defense may request and review discovery before deciding how to proceed.
In a Carteret case, discovery comes from the agency that wrote the charge: Carteret Police reports and body-worn camera video for borough stops, or State Police records for Turnpike stops, along with dash-camera video, photographs, witness statements and lab results.
We then confer with the Carteret municipal prosecutor, typically at a Monday evening session, about a dismissal, a downgrade or a diversion program, and we file motions when a stop, search or statement needs a ruling from the judge.
A case that doesn’t resolve is tried before the municipal judge, and the State must prove every element beyond a reasonable doubt.
Carteret DWI and Refusal Cases
A DWI charge under N.J.S.A. 39:4-50 involves issues that are different from many other municipal court matters.
The issues usually start with the stop: whether the officer had a lawful reason to pull you over, whether field sobriety tests were given and scored properly, whether the Alcotest was operated by a certified operator under the required procedures, and what the body-worn and dash-camera video actually shows.
A refusal charge under N.J.S.A. 39:4-50.4a is a separate offense with its own license suspension and ignition interlock requirement, and it can stand even if the DWI itself is dismissed.
Carteret DWI cases can also involve different law-enforcement agencies depending on where the stop began. Carteret Police handle borough roads, while DWI investigations originating on the New Jersey Turnpike may involve the New Jersey State Police.
For more detailed information about DWI cases arising in Carteret:
Disorderly Persons and Criminal Charges in Carteret
Carteret Municipal Court also hears many disorderly persons and petty disorderly persons offenses.
Shoplifting — N.J.S.A. 2C:20-11
Shoplifting under N.J.S.A. 2C:20-11 covers concealing merchandise, leaving without paying, switching or altering price tags and under-ringing. Value sets the grade: under $200 is a disorderly persons offense heard on Carteret’s Monday calendar, while higher amounts are indictable and go to New Brunswick. A civil demand letter from the store is separate and doesn’t end the criminal case.
Simple Assault — N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1
Simple assault cases may arise from arguments, fights and other confrontations. Evidence can include witness statements, photographs, surveillance footage and body-camera recordings.
Disorderly Conduct — N.J.S.A. 2C:33-2
Disorderly conduct charges may involve allegations of fighting, threatening behavior or conduct alleged to have caused a public disturbance. The particular conduct and surrounding circumstances are important when determining whether the statutory elements can be proven.
Drug Possession — N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10
Drug possession cases may arise from traffic stops, vehicle searches, pedestrian encounters or other police investigations. Issues can include possession, identification of the substance and whether the search or seizure was lawful.
For additional information:
Middlesex County Drug Possession Attorney →
Paying an Eligible Carteret Municipal Court Summons
Eligible Carteret tickets can be paid online through NJMCdirect using court code 1201.
Pay an eligible summons through NJMCdirect →
Not every charge can be paid online. If a summons requires a court appearance or the offense is not designated as payable, the matter must be handled through the court process.
Paying a Carteret summons is a guilty plea. Before paying a ticket that carries points, such as speeding or careless driving, ask whether a no-point amendment is possible, because points, MVC surcharges and insurance increases follow the plea.
Carteret Police and Other Law-Enforcement Agencies
Many cases heard in Carteret Municipal Court originate with the Carteret Police Department.
Other agencies may also become involved depending on where the alleged offense occurred. In particular, matters originating on the New Jersey Turnpike will involve the New Jersey State Police rather than Carteret Police.
Identifying the arresting or issuing agency is important because police reports, body-camera recordings, dash-camera footage and other discovery are generally obtained from the agency that created or maintains those records.
Convenient Edison Office for Carteret Municipal Court Cases
Our Edison office is at 3840 Park Avenue, Suite 202A, Edison, New Jersey 08820.
It’s about a 20-minute drive from Carteret, depending on traffic. We meet Carteret clients in Edison, by phone or by video.
Because Carteret holds court on Monday evenings, many clients can resolve their case without missing work. We also handle cases in neighboring Woodbridge and throughout Middlesex County.
Learn more about our Edison criminal defense practice →
Carteret Municipal Court Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Carteret Municipal Court?
Inside the Police Department Building at 230 Roosevelt Avenue, Carteret, NJ 07008. The court’s phone number is 732-541-3900, and court email goes to Carteret.mc@njcourts.gov rather than the borough’s general address.
What is the Carteret Municipal Court code?
Carteret’s municipal court code is 1201. You’ll need it with your ticket number on NJMCdirect.
Are Turnpike tickets written in Carteret heard in Carteret Municipal Court?
Generally, yes. Motor vehicle tickets and DWI charges from the stretch of the New Jersey Turnpike inside Carteret, including Interchange 12, are heard in Carteret Municipal Court, but the evidence comes from the New Jersey State Police rather than Carteret Police.
Is a DWI handled in Carteret Municipal Court?
A DWI charge under N.J.S.A. 39:4-50 arising within Carteret is generally handled in Carteret Municipal Court, subject to the facts and jurisdiction of the particular case.
What are the Carteret Municipal Court hours?
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., with different hours in summer. Court sits Monday evenings at 6:00 p.m.
Can I pay a Carteret traffic ticket online?
Eligible payable matters may be handled through NJMCdirect. A summons requiring a court appearance or a non-payable offense must be addressed through the court process.
Who are the Carteret Municipal Court judges?
Judges Allan P. Comba and Angela Pastor preside in Carteret Municipal Court.
Do I have to appear in person?
Carteret’s regular sessions are held in person on Monday evenings at police headquarters, but your notice controls whether a particular appearance is in person or virtual. Follow the most recent notice from the court.
Talk to a Carteret Criminal Defense Lawyer
Carteret’s Monday evening calendar moves quickly, so it helps to have the discovery requested before your first listing. Call our Edison office at (732) 659-9600 for a free, confidential case review, available 24/7. Se habla español.