Elkhart County Traffic Court Records
Elkhart County traffic court records are filed and maintained by the County Clerk's Office at the Elkhart County Courthouse in Goshen, Indiana, covering all traffic citations, infractions, and moving violations processed by the county's courts. This page covers how to search records through the state portal, how to pay a ticket, how the county's infraction deferral program works, and how to reach the Clerk's Office for case-specific help.
Elkhart County Traffic Court Quick Facts
Search Elkhart County Traffic Records Online
The Indiana MyCase portal is the primary tool for searching Elkhart County traffic court records. It is free to use and requires no account or login. Search by the name of the person cited, the case number, or the UTT (Uniform Traffic Ticket) number on the paper ticket. Results include the charge, hearing dates, current case status, and the final outcome once a case is decided.
Elkhart County is one of Indiana's largest counties, with over 400,000 residents. The volume of traffic cases handled by the Clerk's Office reflects that. New citations typically appear in MyCase within a few business days of being filed at the courthouse. If your case doesn't appear right away, wait a few days and search again. The UTT number is the most direct way to find your specific record without sifting through name-based results.
The Elkhart County Clerk's page on the county website has office information, links to payment resources, and service details for all types of court matters handled by the clerk. That is a good place to start if you have questions beyond just looking up a case in MyCase.
Elkhart County is part of Judicial District 5, which includes Kosciusko and Marshall counties alongside Elkhart. The Indiana Courts local directory lists all courts in the district and their contact information.
Elkhart County Infraction Deferral Program
The Elkhart County Prosecutor's Office runs an infraction deferral program that gives eligible drivers a way to avoid a traffic conviction on their record. Moving violation deferrals carry a fee of $252.50. Non-moving violation deferrals are $92.50. If you complete the deferral period without a new violation, the original charge is dismissed and does not appear as a conviction on your record.
Not every citation qualifies. Speeding violations of 1 to 25 mph over the limit and most other moving violations are generally eligible. However, CDL holders may not use the deferral program. Drivers who already received a deferral in another Indiana county are not eligible. You are also not eligible if you have a felony conviction in the last five years, a misdemeanor conviction in the last 12 months, or are currently on probation.
The Elkhart County Prosecutor's deferral page at elkhartcountyprosecutor.com has full eligibility details and explains what paperwork you need to submit. The ticket FAQs page on the same site answers common questions about the process, timeline, and what happens if you miss a deadline.
Do NOT pay your ticket through any online portal if you want to pursue a deferral. Paying the ticket typically closes the case and ends your eligibility. Contact the Prosecutor's Office first to confirm your eligibility and get the correct forms before taking any other action on your citation.
Note: CDL holders are excluded from the Elkhart County deferral program and cannot apply regardless of the violation type or driving history.
Pay a Traffic Ticket in Elkhart County
For tickets where you are not pursuing a deferral, online payment is available through the Indiana MyCase portal and the statewide ePay system. You need your cause number or UTT number to complete the transaction. A convenience fee applies to credit card payments online. The portals are available around the clock.
In-person payments are accepted at the Elkhart County Courthouse in Goshen. Hours are Monday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Tuesday through Friday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Note that Monday has extended hours compared to the rest of the week. Cash, money orders, and credit or debit cards are accepted at the counter. Personal checks are not.
Mail payments must be in the form of a money order or cashier's check. Write your cause number on the payment. Send it to the Elkhart County Clerk, Elkhart County Courthouse, Goshen, IN. Do not mail cash. Give plenty of time before any court date for the mail payment to be processed.
Note: Monday office hours in Goshen run until 5:00 PM, one hour later than Tuesday through Friday, so plan accordingly if you need extra time to visit in person.
Elkhart County Clerk's Office - Contact and Services
The Elkhart County Clerk's Office is located at the Elkhart County Courthouse in Goshen, Indiana. The main phone number is (574) 523-2380. The Election Board Office is at a separate location: 1905 Reliance Road, Goshen. Court-related questions should go to the main courthouse number.
The Clerk's Office maintains all court records for Elkhart County, including traffic infractions. Staff can confirm case status, verify payment, provide court dates, and explain the process for requesting certified copies. Certified copies carry a per-page fee. Call ahead to confirm what you need to bring and what the current fees are before visiting in person.
For self-help resources on traffic infractions and court procedures, the Indiana Courts Self-Service Legal Center has plain-language guides. The Indiana Legal Help website also provides free information on traffic violations and what your rights are at each step of the process.
Traffic Infractions Under Indiana Law in Elkhart County
Traffic citations in Indiana are civil matters. Under Indiana Code Title 34, infraction proceedings follow civil procedure rules. No jail time attaches to a standard traffic infraction. The consequences are fines, court costs, and BMV points. Points can raise insurance rates and, if they accumulate, lead to a license suspension. More serious driving charges, such as reckless driving, are handled differently and may carry criminal consequences.
Indiana Code Title 9 covers motor vehicles and traffic rules across the state. It sets the fine structure, establishes how violations are classified, and governs how the BMV processes court-reported convictions. Minor violations in Elkhart County go through the violations bureau. You can pay those without appearing in court. Contested cases or more serious violations require a court appearance before a judge.
Once a case is decided, it becomes a public record and stays searchable through MyCase. To check your official driving record with the state, visit the Indiana BMV website. The BMV record and the court record are separate systems, and a conviction in Elkhart County courts will typically appear in both within a short time of the case being closed.
Elkhart County Traffic Records - What's in the File
Traffic court records in Elkhart County include the citation, the charge, hearing dates, any plea entered, the case outcome, and all fines and costs assessed. For cases that go to a hearing, the file may also include the judge's findings and any special conditions attached to the disposition. All of this is publicly searchable through MyCase at no cost.
Certified copies require a formal request through the Clerk's Office. They are not available through the online portal. Call (574) 523-2380 for current fees and how to submit a request. The Indiana Courts public records page explains what the court system makes available statewide and how to request records not accessible through MyCase.
Note: Online results from MyCase are for informational use only. They are not certified copies and cannot replace official court documents for legal or insurance purposes.
Elkhart County Clerk - Local Resource Page
The image below shows the Elkhart County Clerk's website, which is the official local starting point for questions about traffic court records and payments in Goshen.
The Elkhart County Clerk's page provides office hours, phone contacts, and links to payment options and forms for all types of court matters in the county.
The Elkhart County Clerk page links to online payment tools, explains deferral application steps, and provides direct contact information for staff who can help with specific traffic case questions.
Cities in Elkhart County
Goshen is the largest qualifying city in Elkhart County. Traffic court records for citations issued in Goshen are handled by the Elkhart County Clerk's Office, since city-level traffic matters route through the county court system.
Nearby Indiana Counties
Citations issued in counties bordering Elkhart are handled by those counties' courts. Use the links below to find traffic court record pages for the surrounding area.