Bristol County Traffic Court Records
Bristol County traffic court records are filed and maintained at four district courts serving this southeastern Massachusetts county. With nearly 580,000 residents, Bristol is one of the most populous counties in the state, and its courts handle a high volume of traffic citations each year along Interstate 195, Route 44, and other major corridors. This page explains where to find records, how the hearing process works, and what to do if you received a ticket in Fall River, New Bedford, Taunton, Attleboro, or anywhere else in the county.
Bristol County Overview
Bristol County District Courts and Their Jurisdictions
Four district courts handle traffic matters in Bristol County. Each court serves a defined geographic area, and your citation determines which court has jurisdiction over your case. If you are unsure which court handles your town, check the city or town listed on your citation or call the clerk's office at the court you think may be correct.
Taunton District Court serves the county seat and nearby towns including Berkley, Dighton, Norton, Raynham, and Rehoboth. Fall River District Court handles Fall River and surrounding communities. New Bedford District Court serves New Bedford, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, and Acushnet. Attleboro District Court covers the northern part of the county, including Attleboro, North Attleborough, Mansfield, Norton (for some matters), and Plainville, which is near the Rhode Island border.
All case records are searchable through the MassCourts public portal. Search by name, docket number, or date of birth to pull up civil and criminal traffic cases. No registration is required. The system is free to use.
Attleboro District Court
88 North Main Street, Attleboro, MA 02703
Phone: (508) 222-5900
Fall River District Court
186 South Main Street, Fall River, MA 02722
Phone: (508) 491-3200
New Bedford District Court
75 North 6th Street, New Bedford, MA 02740
Phone: (508) 999-9700
Taunton District Court
40 Broadway, Taunton, MA 02780
Phone: (508) 977-6000
For general guidance on how to look up records by docket number or name, visit the Massachusetts court docket search guide.
Bristol County Traffic Violations: Civil and Criminal
Massachusetts separates traffic offenses into two main groups. Civil Motor Vehicle Infractions (CMVIs) are the most common type. Speeding, rolling a stop sign, following too closely, and failure to signal are all CMVIs. These are governed by MGL Chapter 90C. A CMVI is not a criminal matter. It does not go on a criminal record. But it does go on your driving record and affects your insurance rates through the Safe Driver Insurance Plan.
Criminal traffic offenses are filed under Chapter 90. Operating under the influence is one of the most common criminal traffic charges in Bristol County. OUI falls under Chapter 90, Section 24. A first OUI conviction can mean license suspension, fines, possible jail time, and mandatory alcohol education. Repeat offenses carry escalating penalties. Reckless operation, drag racing, and leaving the scene of an accident with injury are also criminal matters handled in district court, with the possibility of indictment and transfer to Superior Court for serious cases.
Interstate 195 cuts through Fall River and New Bedford and is one of the most active enforcement corridors in the county. State Police regularly patrol I-195 for speeding, impaired driving, and commercial vehicle violations. Route 44 through Taunton and Route 1 near Attleboro are also high-enforcement roads.
Paying and Appealing Bristol County Traffic Tickets
When you receive a ticket in Bristol County, you have 20 days from the citation date to decide how to respond. Three main paths exist: pay the fine, request a clerk-magistrate hearing, or request a judge-level appeal after a clerk-magistrate hearing rules against you.
To pay a ticket, use the Massachusetts online ticket payment system. Payment can also be made by mail or in person at the clerk's office of the relevant district court. Payment is an admission of the violation. Points will be assigned to your driving record.
To contest the ticket, file a hearing request within 20 days. The clerk-magistrate hearing fee is $25. This is an informal proceeding. The clerk reviews evidence and hears your explanation. There is no right to cross-examine the officer at the clerk level. If you lose, you can escalate to a judge for $50. At the judge hearing, the issuing officer must appear. If they do not show, the ticket is generally dismissed.
The ticket appeal page on mass.gov walks through the entire process. You should also review the traffic ticket hearing overview before your appearance so you know what to expect and what evidence to bring.
Note: If you miss the 20-day window, you lose the right to a clerk-magistrate hearing and the violation is typically entered against you automatically.
Attleboro District Court Traffic Records
Attleboro District Court serves the northern part of Bristol County and handles a significant volume of traffic cases due to its proximity to the Rhode Island border and the busy Route 1 and Interstate 95 corridors. The court processes both civil infractions and criminal traffic matters for Attleboro and surrounding towns.
The Attleboro District Court location page has current contact details, hours, and directions.
Attleboro District Court handles traffic cases from the northern Bristol County towns and is accessible from Interstate 95, which runs near the courthouse.
Fall River and New Bedford District Court Records
Fall River District Court serves one of the two largest cities in Bristol County. Interstate 195 runs directly through Fall River, making it a high-traffic area with frequent enforcement activity. The courthouse is located in downtown Fall River at 186 South Main Street. Both civil and criminal traffic cases from Fall River and nearby towns are handled here.
The Fall River District Court location page has current hours and contact information.
Fall River District Court is one of the busier courts in Bristol County, processing traffic cases from a dense urban area where I-195 and Route 195 generate consistent enforcement activity year-round.
New Bedford District Court covers the other major city in the county. New Bedford's port and industrial waterfront generate commercial vehicle traffic, and the downtown streets see frequent enforcement. The courthouse at 75 North 6th Street handles traffic matters for New Bedford and several surrounding towns.
The New Bedford District Court location page covers the courthouse address, phone, and hours.
New Bedford District Court processes traffic cases for the city and surrounding towns, with commercial vehicle violations adding to the standard citation volume given the area's working port.
Taunton District Court and County Seat Records
Taunton District Court handles traffic cases for the county seat and the surrounding central Bristol County towns. Taunton sits at the intersection of several major routes, including Route 44 and Route 138, and State Police and local departments actively patrol these corridors. The courthouse at 40 Broadway is the main hub for traffic hearings in this part of the county.
The Taunton District Court location page has address, phone, and hours.
Taunton District Court at 40 Broadway serves as the county seat courthouse for Bristol County traffic matters and handles cases from Taunton and several nearby communities.
Bristol County Traffic Records Online
The official way to search Bristol County traffic court records online is through MassCourts. This free portal covers all four Bristol County District Courts. You can search by name, case number, or citation number. Results show party names, charges, hearing dates, and case status for both civil motor vehicle infractions and criminal traffic matters.
For step-by-step help reading what you find, see the court docket search guide on mass.gov. It explains how docket entries work and what the status codes mean. If a case does not appear online, contact the clerk at the relevant District Court directly. Older records and some sealed matters may not appear in the online system.
Note: Always verify case information through MassCourts or directly with the court clerk for the most current and accurate record.
Bristol County Driving Records
Your Massachusetts driving record is maintained by the RMV and reflects any convictions, findings, or license actions from Bristol County courts. When you pay a CMVI or lose a hearing, the court notifies the RMV, which updates your record and assesses SDIP points. More points mean higher insurance premiums at your next renewal.
You can request your driving record from the RMV online for $20. Certified records are available at a higher cost for court or insurance purposes. Your record shows the past several years of violations and license actions.
If you need to file a crash report related to an accident that generated traffic charges in Bristol County, visit the police crash report request page. Crash reports are separate from court records but are often relevant to insurance claims and civil lawsuits arising from the same incident.
Qualifying Cities in Bristol County
Three Bristol County cities meet the population threshold for dedicated records pages on this site:
- Fall River - served by Fall River District Court
- New Bedford - served by New Bedford District Court
- Taunton - served by Taunton District Court (county seat)
Other Bristol County communities such as Attleboro, North Attleborough, and Dartmouth do not meet the population threshold and do not have dedicated city pages. For traffic records from those towns, use the relevant district court listed above.
Nearby Counties
Bristol County borders Plymouth County to the northeast, Norfolk County to the north, and Barnstable County to the southeast. All neighboring counties have their own district courts and traffic records systems.