High Bridge is a small borough of 3,546 people (2020 census) on about 2.4 square miles along the South Branch of the Raritan River. It is the western end of NJ Transit’s Raritan Valley Line, and the Columbia Trail begins here before winding north through Califon and Lebanon Township. The borough’s Main Street, Lake Solitude and Union Forge Park make it a hub for hikers, cyclists and commuters alike.
High Bridge 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.
Charges written by the High Bridge Police Department are heard by the High Bridge Municipal Court. The court meets in the Clinton Township Municipal Building at 1370 Route 31 North in Annandale, a few miles south of the borough.
High Bridge Municipal Court at a Glance
- Location: Clinton Township Municipal Building, 1370 Route 31 North, Annandale, NJ 08801
- Phone: 908-735-3730
- Also meeting in this building: Clinton Township, Town of Clinton, Hampton Borough, Lebanon Township, Union Township
- Local police: High Bridge Police Department
- Indictable crimes: Superior Court, Hunterdon County Justice Center, 65 Park Avenue, Flemington
Where High Bridge cases are heard. Confirm the date, time and format on your court notice.
What Kinds of Cases Start in High Bridge?
High Bridge is a quiet town, and most cases are local:
- DWI and traffic offenses on Route 513 and Main Street
- Juvenile and young adult matters, including fake IDs and incidents involving alcohol, marijuana or vapes and people under 21
- Trespassing and criminal mischief at parks and along the trail
- Harassment and simple assault from neighbor or family disputes
- Drug paraphernalia found during a stop
Underage alcohol and cannabis cases deserve a note. Since 2021, possession of alcohol or small amounts of cannabis by people under 21 is handled through written warnings and referrals rather than criminal charges, and police face limits on searches based on the odor of cannabis alone. If a search began that way, the evidence may be challenged.
Domestic Violence Calls
When police respond to a domestic dispute in High Bridge, they may file a criminal complaint and the alleged victim may seek a restraining order. Those are two separate cases. The criminal charge, often simple assault or harassment, is usually heard in municipal court, while the restraining order is heard in the Family Part at the Justice Center in Flemington. What you say in one case can be used in the other, so it is important to get advice before either hearing. See our domestic violence page.
High Bridge Borough population by census, 1980 to 2020. Source: U.S. Census Bureau via NJ Office of GIS.
High Bridge’s population has stayed between about 3,400 and 3,900 since 1980, and stood at 3,546 in 2020. The borough is mostly built out, with older homes near Main Street and newer neighborhoods on the hills. Its train station and trailhead bring commuters and visitors, especially on weekends.
Indictable Charges From High Bridge
Fourth-degree crimes and above, such as possession of controlled dangerous substances, burglary or aggravated assault, are sent to the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office and heard at the Justice Center, 65 Park Avenue, Flemington. If you were held after arrest, you will see a judge there for a first appearance, and the prosecutor may seek detention.
Keeping a High Bridge Charge Off Your Record
Conditional discharge, conditional dismissal and Pretrial Intervention are designed for people with no prior record, and each can end in dismissal. Young people charged in High Bridge often have the most to lose from a conviction because of college applications, financial aid and future employment, so using the right program at the right time matters.
Drug Paraphernalia Charges in High Bridge
Possession of drug paraphernalia under N.J.S.A. 2C:36-2 is one of the most common charges in small Hunterdon towns, including High Bridge. It is a disorderly persons offense, punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine, and it usually starts with a pipe, grinder or scale found during a traffic stop or a call to a home.
Two recent changes matter. First, cannabis paraphernalia used by adults is no longer the basis for a charge in most situations, because adult cannabis use is legal. Second, possession of hypodermic syringes was decriminalized in 2022. What remains are cases involving other drugs. Most first-time paraphernalia charges qualify for conditional discharge, which ends in dismissal, and the search that turned up the item is often open to challenge.
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 High Bridge Case
High Bridge cases often involve young people, families and neighbors, so we focus on both the legal case and the practical consequences. We review the police report and body camera footage, and we check whether any search was lawful, particularly in cases that began with the odor of cannabis.
For first-time defendants, we usually seek a diversion program that ends in dismissal. In domestic violence cases, we coordinate the criminal case with the restraining order hearing so that testimony in one does not hurt you in the other. If the case goes to Flemington, we work directly with the prosecutor’s office 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.
- Heard in the same court building: Clinton Township, Town of Clinton, Union Township, Hampton, Lebanon Township
- Every town: Hunterdon County town guide index
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is High Bridge Municipal Court?
It meets at the Clinton Township Municipal Building, 1370 Route 31 North, Annandale, NJ 08801. The phone number is 908-735-3730.
Can someone under 21 be charged with marijuana possession in High Bridge?
Possession of small amounts by people under 21 is generally handled with written warnings and parental notification for minors, not criminal charges. Larger amounts, distribution and other drugs are still crimes.
Is a restraining order the same as a criminal charge?
No. A restraining order is a civil case in the Family Part. A criminal complaint is separate, and the two can proceed at the same time.
Do I need a lawyer for a disorderly persons charge?
You are not required to have one, but a disorderly persons conviction is a criminal record. A lawyer can often secure a dismissal or a lesser charge.
Does High Bridge have its own police department?
Yes. The High Bridge Police Department patrols the borough.
Can a juvenile case from High Bridge be kept confidential?
Juvenile records are generally confidential and are handled in the Family Part, not municipal court.
Talk to a Hunterdon County Defense Attorney
High Bridge is a small town, but a charge there can affect school, work and family. Keith Oliver Criminal Law defends people charged in High Bridge and across Hunterdon County. Call Keith Oliver Criminal Law at (908) 533-1064 or contact us online to talk about your case.