What happens with a criminal or DUI case in Havertown or Haverford Township?

Last updated October 4, 2026.

A criminal or DUI case from Haverford Township, which includes Havertown, usually starts with the Haverford Township Police Department at 1010 Darby Road and goes to District Court 32-2-53 at 525 West Chester Pike, Suites 103 and 105, for the preliminary arraignment and hearing. That court hears all of Haverford Township plus a handful of Upper Darby precincts, according to Delaware County's list effective April 8, 2026. If the case is held for court, everything after the preliminary hearing happens at the Delaware County Courthouse in Media.

Giribaldi Law's office is across from that Courthouse, and Havertown is among the communities the firm serves. For the county overview, see our Delaware County page.

Where are the Haverford offices?

Addresses come from the township, the county's district court list and the county's municipal directory. Neighboring Radnor Township, by contrast, goes to District Court 32-2-43 in Newtown Square, and most of Upper Darby goes to courts on Garrett Road; see Upper Darby cases.

How does a Haverford case move, step by step?

1. The stop or arrest by Haverford Township police, or another agency within the township.
2. Preliminary arraignment and bail at District Court 32-2-53 or by video; see how bail works in Pennsylvania.
3. Preliminary hearing on West Chester Pike within 14 days if held only on the case or 21 days if released (Pa.R.Crim.P. 540(G)); see the preliminary hearing.
4. Held for court: formal arraignment in Media; see formal arraignment and pretrial motions.
5. Diversion, plea or trial in the Court of Common Pleas.

For a DUI, the county's ARD rules and the PennDOT suspension run alongside; see eligibility for DUI ARD in Delaware County.

What should I know about the Haverford Township Police?

The Haverford Township Board of Commissioners established a Night Watch and Police Force on June 5, 1916, through Ordinance 77 of 1916, which set the force at one chief and no more than nine officers and directed them to arrest "drunken, disorderly and suspicious persons" under state law and township ordinances, according to the department's history. Today the department lists one chief, 69 sworn officers and 80 civilian personnel, including records staff and part-time parking enforcement officers.

The township also runs a voluntary camera registry and an alert system. Video from private cameras often becomes evidence in neighborhood cases, so it is worth asking early whether footage exists and preserving any that helps you.

How are parking tickets and township citations handled?

Parking tickets are separate from criminal charges, and the township handles them its own way. According to the township's parking page:

• Tickets that begin with "HH" can be paid or disputed online.
• Yellow parking tickets must be mailed with payment or paid at the Police Station Records Division, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• You have five days from the date a ticket is issued to file a dispute online.
• Township meters and listed spaces cost $0.50 per hour, and the ParkMobile app is accepted.

A criminal summary citation, such as disorderly conduct, is different: you must plead within 10 days and a conviction is a criminal record; see what a summary offense is.

What county DUI steps apply to a Havertown driver?

A DUI charged in Haverford Township is a Delaware County case, so the county's DUI program applies. Delaware County Diagnostic Services completes court-ordered evaluations for the district courts and the Court of Common Pleas, and it says a Court Reporting Network (CRN) evaluation is required for every DUI offender in Pennsylvania; the CRN is a pre-screening tool that decides whether a fuller drug and alcohol assessment is needed. Court-ordered Alcohol Highway Safety School classes have been held in person since January 1, 2024, at the Delaware County Emergency Services Training Center, 1600 Calcon Hook Road, Sharon Hill, and in the Government Center in Media, according to the same page. Fees are paid to Court Financial Services, not to Diagnostic Services.

Whether these steps come through ARD or after a conviction depends on the case. The county's DUI ARD track involves waiving the preliminary hearing at District Court 32-2-53 and filing paperwork before formal arraignment; the trade-offs are explained in whether to waive the preliminary hearing in a DUI case. The PennDOT license consequences, which run separately from the court case, are covered in when PennDOT suspends a license after a DUI.

What changes the answer?

• Exact location. Haverford Township goes to 32-2-53; Radnor goes to 32-2-43; parts of Upper Darby also go to 32-2-53.
• Charge type. Felonies and misdemeanors go through the preliminary hearing; summary citations are tried at the district court.
• Diversion. Delaware County ARD and Misdemeanor Diversion deadlines are tied to formal arraignment; see diversion for non-DUI charges.
• Domestic incidents. A PFA has its own hearing in Media; see the final PFA hearing.
• Juveniles. The county's Youth Aid Panel diverts juveniles aged 10 to 17 for certain low-level offenses, according to the DA.

For example: a DUI on West Chester Pike

Here is a hypothetical. A driver is stopped on West Chester Pike in Haverford Township and charged with DUI. His preliminary hearing is set at District Court 32-2-53, a short distance from the stop. He requests the police report from the Records Division, writes down the stop details and contacts a lawyer the next week.

His lawyer explains the Delaware County DUI ARD track, which involves waiving the preliminary hearing and filing the application at least 14 days before formal arraignment, and the alternative of keeping the hearing to test the stop. Either way, the PennDOT side runs on its own schedule. This example only illustrates the local path; it does not predict any result.

What mistakes do people make with Haverford cases?

• Confusing a parking ticket with a criminal citation. They follow different rules.
• Missing the five-day online dispute window for a parking ticket.
• Assuming Radnor and Haverford share a court. They do not.
• Letting camera footage disappear. Ask early, because private and business recordings may not be kept for long, and the owner decides when to delete them.
• Skipping the preliminary hearing. A warrant issues and the case can proceed without you.
• Waiting on diversion. Deadlines arrive quickly.

What should I do this week?

1. Check the court number on your papers: 32-2-53 for Haverford Township.
2. Write down the details and look for any camera footage.
3. Request the police report from the Records Division.
4. Follow every bail condition.
5. Read the first-week checklist after a criminal charge.
6. Book a consultation before the preliminary hearing, and bring the police report, any footage and your bail papers.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Haverford Township police station?

At 1010 Darby Road, Havertown, PA 19083.

Which court handles Havertown cases?

District Court 32-2-53 at 525 West Chester Pike, Suites 103 and 105, Havertown.

Where do I pay a yellow parking ticket?

By mail with payment, or at the Police Station Records Division, weekdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

I live in Havertown but was arrested in another town. Which court hears it?

Generally the district court for the place where the offense happened, not where you live (Pa.R.Crim.P. 130). A Havertown resident stopped in Media, for example, would go to District Court 32-1-28 in Media.

Does District Court 32-2-53 also handle traffic tickets?

Yes. Magisterial district courts handle summary traffic citations as well as preliminary matters in criminal cases, and the citation itself names the court where you must respond within 10 days.

Where does the case go after the preliminary hearing?

To the Delaware County Courthouse in Media; see what to expect at the Courthouse.

Can I dispute a parking ticket online?

Tickets that begin with "HH" can be paid or disputed online, and the township says the online dispute must be filed within five days of the date the ticket was issued.

Who handles DUI evaluations for a Havertown case?

Delaware County Diagnostic Services, which completes court-ordered evaluations, including the CRN evaluation required for every DUI offender.

Are family cases from Havertown heard locally?

No. Divorce, custody and support cases are heard in Media; see Delaware County family court.

Call Giribaldi Law at (610) 891-8303 or contact us online for a free consultation about a Havertown or Haverford Township case. Evening and weekend appointments are available.