Rule 9 Payable Violations; Traffic Clerk
Rule Text
Designation of Traffic Clerk. The Clerk of the Superior Court and the deputy clerks are designated as traffic clerks. Authority of the Traffic Clerk. The traffic clerk shall have the authority to:
(1) accept the defendant’s entry of appearance;
(2) process waiver of trial;
(3) accept admission or denial of liability;
(4) set trial dates; and
(5) assess payment of fines and fees in accordance with a schedule of approved fees on any payable violation for which an admission has been entered. Offenses Not Within the Authority of the Traffic Clerk. The traffic clerk does not have authority over the disposition of non-payable violations. Schedule of Fines. The traffic clerk shall post on the court’s public bulletins and website a schedule of fines for specific traffic offenses and other infractions.
Plea and Payment of Fines and Costs.
(1) Non-Moving Traffic Offenses. Any person charged with a non-moving traffic offense may pay the fines and costs for each violation in the citation, together with a signed plea of guilty and a waiver of trial, to the traffic clerk by mail, online payment, or at the court.
(2) Moving Traffic Offenses. Any person charged with a moving traffic offense that is payable within the authority of the traffic clerk may enter a plea of guilty, waive trial, and pay the fines and costs. Prior to plea, waiver, and payment, the violator shall be informed in writing:
(A) of the right to stand trial;
(B) that signing a plea of guilty will have the same force and effect as a judgment of court; and
(C) that the record of conviction will be sent to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands or the appropriate officers of the license issuing state.
(3) Other Infractions. For other infractions payable within the authority of the traffic clerk, a violator may enter an admission of violation and pay the fines and costs. Procedure After One or More Convictions. Any person who has been found guilty of or who has signed a plea of guilty to one or more previous moving traffic offenses in the preceding twelve months within the jurisdiction of the court shall not be permitted to appear before the traffic clerk unless the court shall, by general order applying to certain specified offenses, permit such appearance. __________________________________________________________