Lower Municipal Court

Lower Municipal Court cases in Cape May County, Erma, NJ

Lower Township Municipal Court in Erma, New Jersey, is a municipal court with limited jurisdiction over matters arising in Lower Township. It handles motor-vehicle and parking violations, DWI/DUI and other traffic offenses, disorderly persons and petty disorderly persons offenses (such as simple assault, harassment, or minor theft), violations of municipal ordinances (e.g., noise, property maintenance, zoning), and certain fish, game, and boating violations. The court conducts first appearances, arraignments, plea hearings, and probable-cause/warrant matters on local complaints; indictable criminal charges are referred to the Cape May County Superior Court after initial proceedings. It does not hear civil, small-claims, landlord-tenant, or family cases, which are handled in Superior Court.

Lower Municipal Court Contact and Location Information

Services and Case Types Handled in Lower Municipal Court

Lower Township Municipal Court serves the public by handling:
- Case types: traffic and parking tickets, DWI/DUI, municipal ordinance/code violations, fish and game and weights/measures matters, and disorderly/petty disorderly persons offenses (e.g., simple assault, harassment, shoplifting under statutory thresholds).
- Case filings: accepts police and citizen complaints, conducts probable-cause reviews, and issues summonses/warrants.
- Court proceedings: schedules and holds arraignments, pretrial conferences, plea hearings, bench trials (no juries), and sentencings.
- Protective orders: may issue emergency temporary restraining orders when the Superior Court is unavailable.
- Payments and compliance: Violations Bureau services, fine/restitution collection, time-payment plans, community service orders, and license-related sanctions as required by law.
- Access services: interpreters, ADA accommodations, virtual/remote appearances (where available), public records requests, and guidance on court procedures.
Note: Jury services and jury trials are handled by the Superior Court, not municipal court.