Chapter 2.25
VIOLATIONS BUREAU
Sections:
2.25.030 Authority to accept bail.
2.25.040 Authority to accept forfeiture of bail consequences.
2.25.050 When person charged may elect to appear before the court.
2.25.060 Duties of Violations Bureau.
2.25.070 Additional duties of the Violations Bureau.
2.25.080 References to “court”.
2.25.010 Created.
There is hereby established a Violations Bureau to assist the court or courts of limited jurisdiction. The Violations Bureau shall be in charge of such person or persons and shall be open at such hours as the City Council may designate. (Ord. 796 § 1, 1971).
2.25.020 Establishing bail.
The district court shall designate the specified offenses under ordinances of this City in respect to which payment of bail may be accepted by the Violations Bureau in satisfaction thereof, and may specify by suitable schedules the amount of such bails for first, second and subsequent offenses, provided such bails are within the limits declared by law or ordinance, and may further specify what number of such offenses shall require appearance before the court. (Ord. 796 § 2, 1971).
2.25.030 Authority to accept bail.
The court may by its order authorize the Violations Bureau to receive the deposit of bail for appearances in court for specified offenses under a bail schedule issued under this chapter. The Violations Bureau, upon accepting the prescribed bail, shall issue a receipt to the alleged violator, and whatever other information the court requires, prepared in multiple copies, and shall provide information of the legal consequences of bail forfeiture. One copy of the receipt shall be forwarded to the City Treasurer and one copy shall be retained by the Violations Bureau. (Ord. 796 § 3, 1971).
2.25.040 Authority to accept forfeiture of bail consequences.
A. The court may by its order authorize the Violations Bureau:
1. To accept forfeiture on bail in specified cases in accordance with a bail schedule under this chapter in lieu of depositing bail for appearance, in which case a receipt shall be issued to the alleged violator, and shall contain a statement indicating that forfeiture of bail shall terminate the case, and, in the case of traffic offenses, may be considered by the State Department of Motor Vehicles only, and for no other purpose, as having the same effect as conviction of the offense charged; and
2. To forfeit bail deposited for appearance on notification by the Clerk or the court of failure of the defendant to appear.
B. Forfeiture of bail under either subsection (A)(1) or (A)(2) shall not be construed as payment of a fine but only for the purpose of the distribution of the funds and shall terminate the case. (Ord. 796 § 4, 1971).
2.25.050 When person charged may elect to appear before the court.
A. Any person charged with an offense for which bail may be forfeited and for which payment of bail may be made to the Violations Bureau shall have the option of forfeiting such bail within the time specified in the notice of arrest at the Violations Bureau upon waiving appearance in court, or may have the option of depositing required lawful bail and shall be entitled to a trial as authorized by law.
B. The Bureau, upon accepting the prescribed bail, shall issue a receipt to the violator acknowledging payment thereof. (Ord. 796 § 5, 1971).
2.25.060 Duties of Violations Bureau.
The following duties are hereby imposed upon the Violations Bureau in respect to all offenses:
A. It shall accept designated bail and issue receipts.
B. It shall receive and issue receipts for cash bail from the persons who must or wish to appear in court, and enter the time of their appearance on the receipt.
C. It shall keep an easily accessible record of all violations of which each person has been guilty during the preceding 12 months.
D. The Violations Bureau shall, not less than once a week or oftener as the judge directs, transfer to the clerk of the proper department of the court all records pertaining to the cases being filed in the district court.
E. Once each week the Violations Bureau shall forward to the State Department of Motor Vehicles the abstract of court record copy of each traffic complaint and citation, indicating the disposition of each case involving bail forfeiture during the previous week. (Ord. 796 § 6, 1971).
2.25.070 Additional duties of the Violations Bureau.
The Violations Bureau shall follow such procedures as may be prescribed by the ordinances of the City, court rules, and as may be required by the laws of the state of Washington. (Ord. 796 § 7, 1971).
2.25.080 References to “court”.
Whenever in this chapter the term “court” or “judge” or “district court” is used, said term shall be construed to be the district court which has jurisdiction in the City of Mountlake Terrace and any judge and court commissioner of said court. Further, any reference to the terms “judge”, “police judge” or “police court”, which may appear in any ordinance of the City of Mountlake Terrace shall hereafter be construed to refer to the said district court having jurisdiction in said City and to the judge and court commissioner of said district court. (Ord. 796 § 8, 1971).