Frenchtown is a riverfront borough of 1,370 people (2020 census) on about 1.2 square miles along the Delaware River. The Frenchtown-Uhlerstown bridge connects it to Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and Routes 12 and 29 meet near its compact downtown. The Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park towpath begins at Frenchtown and runs south along the river, drawing cyclists and walkers.
Frenchtown Borough (highlighted) within Hunterdon County. Indictable cases from every town are heard at the Justice Center in Flemington (star). Map data: NJ Office of GIS.
One point causes frequent confusion: the Frenchtown Borough Municipal Court does not meet in Frenchtown. Its sessions are held at the Raritan Township Municipal Building, One Municipal Drive, Flemington, on Wednesdays. The Kingwood Township building, which has a Frenchtown mailing address, hosts the Kingwood and Milford courts, not Frenchtown’s.
Frenchtown Borough Municipal Court at a Glance
- Location: Raritan Township Municipal Building, One Municipal Drive, Flemington, NJ 08822
- Phone: 908-782-8818
- Court sessions: Wednesdays (check your notice; some dates are virtual)
- Also meeting in this building: Raritan Township, Flemington Borough, Holland Township
- Indictable crimes: Superior Court, Hunterdon County Justice Center, 65 Park Avenue, Flemington
Where Frenchtown cases are heard. Confirm the date, time and format on your court notice.
Make Sure You Go to the Right Building
Because several courts use a Frenchtown or Flemington address, read your notice carefully. Frenchtown Borough cases are heard at One Municipal Drive in Flemington. If you go to the Kingwood Township building on Oak Grove Road, you will be in the wrong place. Most courts also hold some sessions remotely, and your notice will say whether you need to appear in person.
Common Charges in Frenchtown
Frenchtown’s restaurants, river access and bridge traffic produce a predictable set of cases:
- DWI, including stops near the bridge and on Route 12
- Disorderly conduct and simple assault downtown
- Providing alcohol to people under 21 at summer gatherings
- Possession of drug paraphernalia
- Handgun possession by Pennsylvania drivers unfamiliar with New Jersey law
That last charge is the most serious. Carrying a handgun without a New Jersey permit is generally a second-degree crime with a mandatory minimum prison term under the Graves Act. Some first-time offenders can avoid that through Pretrial Intervention or a Graves Act waiver, which requires the prosecutor’s approval.
Frenchtown Borough population by census, 1980 to 2020. Source: U.S. Census Bureau via NJ Office of GIS.
Frenchtown’s population has declined slightly since 1980, from 1,573 to 1,370 in 2020. The borough is small and built out, but its downtown, river access and bridge bring many visitors, especially on weekends.
Indictable Charges Go to the Justice Center
Fourth-degree crimes and higher are sent to the Hunterdon County Justice Center, 65 Park Avenue, Flemington. That includes handgun charges, drug possession, burglary and theft over $200. The Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office handles these cases, and decisions about downgrades, PTI and plea offers are made there.
Options for First-Time Defendants
Conditional discharge (drug and paraphernalia charges), conditional dismissal (other disorderly persons offenses) and Pretrial Intervention (indictable charges) can all end in a dismissal. Each can usually be used only once, so a lawyer can help you decide whether to use a program now or fight the charge.
Fake IDs and Young Visitors
Frenchtown’s restaurants and riverfront draw young adults from both sides of the Delaware, and fake ID cases follow. Using a false identification to buy alcohol or enter a bar can be charged under several statutes, depending on the document and how it was used. Possession of a false government document can be a fourth-degree crime, while misrepresenting age to buy alcohol is generally a disorderly persons-level offense that can also bring a driver’s license suspension.
Adults who buy alcohol for people under 21 can be charged with a disorderly persons offense under N.J.S.A. 2C:33-17. For college students and young professionals, these charges can affect school discipline, internships and job applications. Many first-time cases can be resolved through conditional dismissal or an amendment, so it is worth getting advice before the first court date.
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 Frenchtown Case
For Frenchtown cases, we start by confirming the court location, since confusion with the Kingwood building is common. We request discovery and review the police report, dash and body camera footage, and any search.
For Pennsylvania residents facing handgun charges, we start early on PTI or Graves Act waiver applications. For first-time disorderly persons offenses, we pursue diversion. For DWI, we review the Alcotest and field sobriety tests.
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.
- Heard in the same court building: Raritan Township, Flemington, Holland Township
- Neighboring towns: Alexandria Township
- Every town: Hunterdon County town guide index
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Frenchtown Municipal Court?
Frenchtown Borough’s court meets at the Raritan Township Municipal Building, One Municipal Drive, Flemington, NJ 08822. The phone number is 908-782-8818, and sessions are on Wednesdays.
Isn’t there a court building in Frenchtown?
The Kingwood Township Municipal Building has a Frenchtown mailing address, but it hosts the Kingwood and Milford courts, not Frenchtown Borough’s court.
I’m from Pennsylvania and had my gun in the car. What should I do?
Do not discuss the case with police without a lawyer. New Jersey treats unlicensed handgun possession as a serious crime, but first offenders may have options such as PTI or a Graves Act waiver.
Can I pay a Frenchtown ticket online?
Most traffic tickets that do not require a court appearance can be paid on NJMCdirect.
Who patrols Frenchtown?
Patrol arrangements in small Hunterdon boroughs vary. Your complaint will name the officer and the agency.
Is the Frenchtown bridge a toll bridge?
No. The Frenchtown-Uhlerstown bridge is a free bridge operated by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission.
Talk to a Hunterdon County Defense Attorney
A Frenchtown case may take you to Flemington, whether it is a municipal charge or an indictable crime. Keith Oliver Criminal Law defends people charged in Frenchtown and across Hunterdon County. Call Keith Oliver Criminal Law at (908) 533-1064 or contact us online to talk about your case.