§ 2205 - Answers to traffic ticket - Vermont Statutes

§ 2205. Answers to traffic ticket

(a) A person who is charged with committing a traffic offense may waive appearance and trial and plead guilty or nolo contendere or not guilty by a signed statement. The person shall submit a fine in an amount as established under subsection (b) of this section with the signed statement. The court shall accept the signed statement accompanied by the fine assessed as a plea of guilty or nolo contendere as indicated on the signed statement and shall proceed accordingly.

(b) Whenever fines for traffic offenses are not otherwise established, three district court judges appointed by the court administrator shall establish schedules, within the limits prescribed by law, of the amounts of fines to be imposed. Fines shall be paid to, receipted by and accounted for by the clerk in accordance with these rules. Any law enforcement officer who issues a complaint shall advise the defendant of the schedule of fines and show him a copy thereof.

(c) Unless otherwise provided by law, a defendant who commits a traffic offense shall be fined not more than $100.00. In addition, the operator's license may be suspended pursuant to sections 2505 and 2506 of this title.

(d) If a defendant fails to answer or appear as directed on the traffic ticket or by the district court judge, or fails to pay the fine imposed after judgment, the commissioner, after 20 days from the date of notice issued by the court pursuant to section 2204 of this title, shall suspend the operator's license or privilege to operate a motor vehicle until the defendant answers, appears, or pays the fine. (Added 1971, No. 228 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1971, No. 258 (Adj. Sess.), § 16; 1977, No. 81, § 7, eff. April 27, 1977; 1977, No. 177 (Adj. Sess.), § 8, eff. May 1, 1978; No. 238 (Adj. Sess.), § 4, eff. July 1, 1979; 1979, No. 168 (Adj. Sess.), eff. April 24, 1980; 1981, No. 172 (Adj. Sess.), § 12, eff. April 20, 1982.)