The Criminal and Traffic division are 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 the maintenance of records they generate all of the calendar information, produce background checks, process expunction requests, and hold administrative hearings.
Traffic Citations & Payments
When, Where, & How to pay your traffic citations.
Traffic Citations
Minor traffic citations do not require a court appearance and may simply be paid off before the court date. Paying off a citation prior to court, however, may have unintended consequences.
To find out if your traffic citation requires your personal 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.
Traffic Citation Payments
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 prior to 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 also go up. Court costs of $188 for infraction cases and $190 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
60 Court Plaza
Asheville, NC 28801
Pay In Person
To pay in person, come to the Clerk's office, located on the ground floor of the Buncombe County Judicial Complex no later than the last working day before your court date.
You must pay with:
- Cash
- Certified Check
- Money Order
- Debit or Credit Card
Pay Online
You may pay your citation online at onlineservices.nccourts.org with a major credit or debit card. Like our other payment options, this must be done prior to the court date noted on your ticket.
This service carries a nominal convenience charge in addition to the fine and cost stated on your citation.
Failure to Appear at a Required Court Hearing
If you fail to appear for a required court hearing, an order for Arrest will be issued and, after 20 days, the DMV will be notified of your noncompliance. NC DMV assesses a $200.00 fee and will suspend your license. Since your court appearance was necessary and you failed to appear, you cannot take care of this ticket until the District Attorney agrees to reinstate the charges against you. To do this, you must appear in person in the Criminal Division of the Clerk's Office, located on the 1st floor, Room 110, of the Buncombe County Courthouse for more instructions.
If you live in another state, you should contact an attorney practicing in Buncombe County, North Carolina. Hiring an attorney to represent you may save you the time and expense of a personal appearance in court.
If your court appearance was not necessary and you failed to appear in court or pay your fine, contact the Criminal Division at (828) 259-3402 to find out how much you need to pay. You may be able to simply pay the amount through the mail by certified check or money order.
Court Appearances
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 (828) 259-3402.
Continuances
Continuances may only be issued by the District Attorney or a Judge. You may request a continuance on your court date or you may retain an attorney to request a continuance on your behalf.
NOTE: The Clerk's office cannot issue continuances of court dates.
Missed Court Dates
- If you have missed your court date by more than 20 days, a late fee of $200 will be added to the fine and costs. Additionally, the Division of Motor Vehicles will start the process to suspend your driver's license.
- If your personal court appearance was required for a court mandatory offense and you failed to appear on your court date, the court will issue an Order for Arrest. You may be required to post a bond to insure your appearance in court at a later date.
Administrative Court
Administrative Court handles first appearance issues, minor traffic and compliance offenses, and advises defendants of their constitutional rights to representation in regards to more serious charges.
Administrative Court is held on the first full week of every month, in the Buncombe County Judicial Complex, District Courtroom 1A.
Appearances are on a first come first serve basis to let you appear in court at your discretion on the assigned day.
Morning Sessions
8:00 am - 11:30 am
Afternoon Sessions
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Record Checks
Criminal records are a matter of public record and may be checked by name.
Name Inquiry Checks
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 name.
The name inquiry check you obtain from the Clerk's Office only searches criminal charges filed in Buncombe 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 of the Buncombe County Courthouse. You must be able to provide the person's name and date of birth. The $25 fee must be paid for and receipted in the main lobby of the Buncombe County Judicial Complex at the cashier stations prior to receiving the criminal history check.
Request an Inquiry by Mail
Mail your certified name inquiry check request to the address below, and make sure to provide the following information:
- 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: Criminal Division
60 Court Plaza
Asheville, NC 28801
Expunction Requests
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 defendants 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.
Petitions may be picked up on the 1st floor, Room 110, of the Buncombe County Courthouse or by accessing the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts website.
Locate & Contact
Clerk of Superior Court
Contact
Jean Marie Christy
Clerk of Superior Court
P. (828) 259-3400
Mailing Address
Buncombe County Courthouse
60 Court Plaza
Asheville, NC 28801-3519
Courier Box Number: 12-79-02
Additional Fax Numbers
- Criminal Division
828-259-3402 - Civil Division
828-259-3400 - Small Claims
828-259-3407 - Estates
828-259-3404 - Jury
828-259-6407 - Information Window
828-259-3400
