Sloatsburg Village Justice Court: What Criminal Defendants Need to Know

The Village of Sloatsburg Justice Court is located in the Sloatsburg Municipal Building at 96 Orange Turnpike, Sloatsburg, NY 10974. The building is a historic structure that has served as the village's judicial center for over a century. Sloatsburg is a small village of approximately 3,200 residents incorporated within the Town of Ramapo, situated at the western edge of Rockland County where it meets the Orange County line — near the entrance to Harriman State Park. The court handles traffic violations, criminal matters, and small claims for matters arising within the village's boundaries. Criminal and traffic calendars begin promptly at 5:00 p.m. The court can be reached at (845) 753-5506. Court clerk email: MABalducci@nycourts.gov.

The court has jurisdiction over traffic violations, misdemeanor criminal matters, felony arraignments, small claims proceedings, and landlord-tenant matters. The New York State Thruway (I-87) and Route 17 (Orange Turnpike) run directly through the village, generating the majority of the court's case volume — primarily speeding tickets and DWI arrests. The Thruway through Sloatsburg is three lanes in each direction with a 65 mph limit; Route 17 has variable lane counts and speed limits that change multiple times as it passes through the village, creating enforcement conditions that frequently catch unfamiliar drivers.

Traffic stops on the Thruway are conducted exclusively by the New York State Police. Route 17 stops within the village may be conducted by the Ramapo Police Department. All citations for violations committed within the village boundaries are adjudicated in Sloatsburg Village Court. If you were issued a summons or arrested within Sloatsburg, the village's own court — not Ramapo Town Court — is where your matter will be heard. For serious criminal arrests (DWI, drug charges, assault), your arraignment will be in Sloatsburg Village Court and, if the charge is a felony, the matter will later transfer to Rockland County Court. The Rockland County DA's Office prosecutes all criminal cases in this court. The Village Attorney handles village code and certain traffic matters.

Sloatsburg is an incorporated village within the Town of Ramapo. Matters arising within the village boundaries belong in Sloatsburg Village Court. Matters arising in the unincorporated areas of Ramapo surrounding the village belong in Ramapo Town Court. Your summons will name the court. The geographic boundary can be subtle — if you were stopped on Route 17 or the Thruway in this area and are unsure which court applies, bring your paperwork and call our office. We'll tell you immediately.

Sloatsburg Village Court is a smaller court by volume, but the cases it handles — particularly Thruway DWI arrests and serious traffic matters — can carry consequences as significant as any case in the region. The NYSP officers who make arrests in this corridor know the procedures; effective defense requires an attorney who knows them equally well. Yvonne Garbett appears throughout Rockland County's courts including Sloatsburg, and she is familiar with the practical and legal considerations specific to Thruway enforcement cases.