Lambertville is Hunterdon County’s only city, with 4,139 residents (2020 census) on about 1.2 square miles along the Delaware River. The free New Hope-Lambertville bridge connects it to New Hope, Pennsylvania, and the two towns function almost as one destination, with restaurants, galleries, antique shops and nightlife drawing crowds on both sides of the river. Route 29 runs through the city along the Delaware and Raritan Canal.
Lambertville City (highlighted) within Hunterdon County. Indictable cases from every town are heard at the Justice Center in Flemington (star). Map data: NJ Office of GIS.
The Lambertville Police Department handles local patrol, and unlike many Hunterdon towns, Lambertville’s municipal court still meets within the city, at City Hall. The Lambertville City Municipal Court is at 25 South Union Street and generally holds its regular session on the first Thursday of the month.
Lambertville City Municipal Court at a Glance
- Location: Lambertville City Hall, 25 South Union Street, Lambertville, NJ 08530
- Phone: 609-397-1335
- Court sessions: 1st Thursday of the month, 12:30 p.m. (check your notice; some dates are virtual)
- Local police: Lambertville Police Department
- Indictable crimes: Superior Court, Hunterdon County Justice Center, 65 Park Avenue, Flemington
Where Lambertville cases are heard. Confirm the date, time and format on your court notice.
The New Hope Connection
Many people charged in Lambertville spent the evening in New Hope or walked across the bridge. That leads to a distinctive set of cases:
- DWI after a stop on Bridge Street, Route 29 or Route 179
- Disorderly conduct and simple assault after a night out
- Fake ID and providing alcohol to minors charges
- Criminal mischief involving damage downtown
- Possession of drug paraphernalia
If you were arrested in Pennsylvania, your case is in Bucks County. If the incident happened on the New Jersey side of the bridge, it is a Lambertville case. Jurisdiction can matter a great deal, because the laws and penalties differ.
A Monthly Court Session
Lambertville’s court has a limited calendar. With a regular session roughly once a month, delays can add weeks to a case. Request discovery early, especially body camera footage, and plan adjournments in advance. Missing a date can lead to a bench warrant.
Lambertville City population by census, 1980 to 2020. Source: U.S. Census Bureau via NJ Office of GIS.
Lambertville’s population has stayed close to 4,000 since 1980, and was 4,139 in 2020. The city is small and built out, but its restaurants, shops and connection to New Hope draw large crowds, especially on weekends.
Indictable Charges From Lambertville
Crimes of the fourth degree or higher are forwarded to the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office and heard at the Hunterdon County Justice Center in Flemington. That includes aggravated assault, drug possession, burglary and theft over $200. Some charges may be downgraded and sent back to Lambertville Municipal Court.
Options to Avoid a Conviction
For first-time defendants, conditional discharge, conditional dismissal and Pretrial Intervention can each end in dismissal. For DWI, which has no diversion program, the defense focuses on the stop, the field sobriety tests and the Alcotest. Our Hunterdon County DWI page explains how those cases are defended.
Disorderly Conduct and Simple Assault After a Night Out
Lambertville’s nightlife produces cases that often begin with a disagreement and end with police. Disorderly conduct under N.J.S.A. 2C:33-2, fighting, threatening behavior or creating a hazardous condition, is a petty disorderly persons offense. Simple assault under N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1a is a disorderly persons offense, or a petty disorderly persons offense if the fight was entered into by mutual consent.
Self-defense is a complete defense if the force used was reasonable. Video from bars, restaurants and street cameras can be decisive, so it should be preserved quickly. Many first-time defendants qualify for conditional dismissal, and some cases are resolved through cross-complaint dismissals when both sides were involved.
What Is at Stake: Penalties by Offense Level
- Petty disorderly persons offense: up to 30 days in jail and a $500 fine
- Disorderly persons offense: up to 6 months in jail and a $1,000 fine
- Fourth-degree crime: up to 18 months in prison
- Third-degree crime: 3 to 5 years
- Second-degree crime: 5 to 10 years
- First-degree crime: 10 to 20 years, and longer for some offenses
Maximum jail exposure rises sharply once a charge becomes an indictable crime.
How We Approach a Lambertville Case
For Lambertville cases, we start by confirming jurisdiction, since incidents near the bridge can involve both states. We request discovery early, including body camera footage, and review whether the stop or arrest was lawful.
For first-time defendants, we pursue diversion programs that end in dismissal. For DWI, we review the Alcotest and field sobriety tests. For indictable charges, we work with the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office in Flemington on downgrades and PTI.
Nearby Hunterdon County Town Guides
If your charge was written in a neighboring town, that town’s guide explains where the case will be heard and what to expect.
- Neighboring towns: West Amwell Township
- Every town: Hunterdon County town guide index
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Lambertville Municipal Court?
It is at Lambertville City Hall, 25 South Union Street, Lambertville, NJ 08530. The phone number is 609-397-1335.
How often does Lambertville’s court meet?
The regular session is generally on the first Thursday of the month. Your notice will give your exact date.
I was arrested after walking across from New Hope. Which court has my case?
If the arrest happened on the New Jersey side, the case is in Lambertville. Pennsylvania arrests are handled in Bucks County.
Is Lambertville a city or a town?
Lambertville is officially a city, the only one in Hunterdon County.
Does Lambertville have its own police department?
Yes. The Lambertville Police Department patrols the city.
Can I be charged in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania for the same incident?
It is possible if conduct occurred in both states, but most cases are charged where the main incident happened.
Talk to a Hunterdon County Defense Attorney
A night out in Lambertville or New Hope should not leave you with a permanent record. Keith Oliver Criminal Law defends people charged in Lambertville and across Hunterdon County. Call Keith Oliver Criminal Law at (908) 533-1064 or contact us online to talk about your case.