The Criminal and Traffic division is responsible for the entry of cases and citations, the entry of dispositions and judgments, and the retention of records in both the District and Superior Courts.

In addition to maintaining records, they generate all of the calendar information, produce background checks, process expunction requests, and hold administrative hearings.

When, Where, & How to pay your traffic citations.

Minor traffic citations do not require a court appearance and may be paid off before the court date at payncticket.org. You will need your citation number for this. It does have a convenience fee associated with it.

Paying off a citation before court may have unintended consequences. By paying it off, you are pleading guilty to the citation. The clerk's office does not know how that will affect your driver's license or insurance.

To find out if your traffic citation requires your court appearance, please check your copy of the traffic citation.

A driver who fails to comply with a citation or other charge may have his driver's license suspended until the matter is settled. Furthermore, if a court appearance was necessary (usually in the more serious traffic citations, such as DWI, Careless and Reckless, etc.), and the defendant fails to appear, an Order for Arrest will be issued, and the defendant may be arrested.

NOTE: Only traffic citations that do not require your personal court appearance may be paid PRIOR to your court date. We do not accept personal checks.

Some traffic tickets require a court appearance and cannot be paid off before the court date. If you fail to appear on your court date as required, your driver's license may be revoked, and you may be arrested.

As the reverse side of your traffic ticket will inform you, paying off a citation before court is the same as appearing in court and pleading responsible (guilty) to the original charge. This conviction may result in points being assessed against your license, and your insurance premiums may increase. Court costs of $193 for infraction cases and $191 for all other criminal charges are still assessed and must be paid in addition to the fine, even if you do not wish to attend your court date.

Accepted Payment Methods

Pay by Mail

To pay by mail, make a certified check or money order payable to the Clerk of Superior Court for the amount shown on the front of your citation. Mail your payment and your citation to:

Clerk of Superior Court

Attn: Criminal and Traffic Division

510 S. Dillard St.

Durham, NC 27701

Pay In Person

To pay in person, come to the Clerk's office on the 1st floor, Rm# 1300 of Durham County, no later than the last working day before your court date.

You must pay with:

Cash

Certified Check

Money Order

Debit or Credit Card (Not accepted for record checks or copy fees)

Pay Online (Convenience Fee associated)

The clerk's office does not take any form of payment over the phone, but we can help you navigate the website used to pay.

Court Dates, Continuances, Administrative Court, Record Checks, and Expunction Requests.

Court Dates

If you would like to check on a criminal or traffic court date, you may call the Clerk's Office at (919) 808-3002.

You can sign up HERE for text or email notifications of changes to court dates on criminal and infraction cases.

Continuances

Continuances may only be issued by the District Attorney or a Judge. You may request a continuance on your court date or retain an attorney to request a continuance on your behalf.

NOTE: The Clerk's office cannot issue continuances of court dates.

Administrative Court handles minor traffic and 1^st appearances for criminal charges and advises defendants of their constitutional rights to representation.

Administrative Court is held every Friday, in the Durham County Courthouse, 3^rd Floor Traffic Court.

Appearances are on a first come first served basis starting at 9:00 am.

Morning Session

9:00 am – whenever cases are finished 

Record Checks

Criminal records are a matter of public record and may be checked by name.

Record searches are generally called a 'name inquiry check'. No guarantee can be made as to actual identity as searches are not based on identifiable characteristics such as fingerprints or Social Security Numbers; however, dates of birth—where known or reported—are recorded in the database.

If a more accurate search is required, it is recommended that a law enforcement agency be used to provide a search based on fingerprints rather than names.

The name inquiry checks you obtain from the Clerk's Office only search criminal charges filed in Durham County, North Carolina, and will not pick up out-of-county, out-of-state, or federal charges. Some internet sites provide this type of search for a fee. 

Request a Certified Name Inquiry Check

To obtain a certified name inquiry check, you may visit the Clerk's Office, located on the 1st floor Rm# 1300 of the Durham County Courthouse. You must be able to provide the person's name and date of birth. The $25 fee must be paid at the cashier Rm #1200 prior to receiving the criminal history check, cash certified check or money order.

Request an Inquiry by Mail

Mail your certified name inquiry check request to the address below, and make sure to provide the following information along with a self-addressed stamped envelope:

The person's first and last name, and middle initial if known; Person's date of birth;

$25.00 certified check or money order, made payable to the Clerk of Superior Court;

Self-addressed & stamped envelope, for the copy.

Clerk of Superior Court

Attn: Cashier Division

510 S. Dillard St.

Durham, NC 27701

For more information on Criminal/Traffic matters, click here for Criminal Traffic FAQ

Petitions for Expunction are filed and processed by the Clerk's office. Not all charges in North Carolina are eligible for expunction. Expunction requests vary based on the charge, type of disposition, and the defendant’s age. Some requests require additional affidavits and documentation.

Fees for expunctions range from no filing fee at all to $175. While the Clerk's office can provide you with the petition they are not able to advise you on how to complete it.

For more information about expunctions: Expunction FAQ

EXPUNCTION INSTRUCTIONS

1. Choose the correct form. Go to www.nccourts.org and choose “FORMS” from the menu, and enter ^“ Expunction” in the search box. Choose the form you require from the resulting list. Forms may also be picked up from Room #100 of the Durham County Courthouse.
2. Fill out the form COMPLETELY, making sure to list your correct mailing address.
3. Add a contact telephone number
4. If a fee is due, go to Cashiers Department first and remit the payment and get 2 extra receipts.
5. Return the form to the Criminal/Traffic Records department: Add the receipts if you had make a payment.
6. The form will be forwarded to a Judge for a signature. Once signed, it is returned to this office and then forwarded to the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI).
7. The processing time is at least 1-3 months. Once the SBI returns the form, you will be contacted. Calling us will not speed up the process.

*We are not attorneys and cannot help you choose a form, or complete the form, nor can we answer any questions regarding your case and the expunction. You can research this topic online, at the public library, or contact an attorney for help.

For more information on Expunctions, click here for Expunction FAQ

For HELP/QUESTIONS regarding Expunctions call:

Legal Aid: 919-688-6396

Southern Coalition of Social Justice: 919-323-3380

DEAR Program: 984-297-2007-6^th Floor Room 6400

Locate & Contact

Clerk of Superior Court

Aminah M. Thompson

P. (919) 808-3000

Mailing Address

Durham County Courthouse

510 S. Dillard St.

Durham, NC 27701

Courier Box Number: 17-3504