§ 5705 -   Waiver; establishment of fines

§ 5705. Waiver; establishment of fines

(a) A person who is charged pursuant to this chapter may waive appearance and trial with the consent of the prosecuting attorney, and plead guilty or nolo contendere 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) 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. The court administrator shall appoint three persons who shall meet with the district judges and recommend a fine schedule. One person appointed shall be a member of the department of public safety, one shall be a delegate from the Vermont association of snow travellers and one shall be a member of the general public who has an interest in boating and boating safety.

(c) 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 uniform snowmobile/boating complaint shall advise the defendant of the schedule of fines and show him a copy thereof.

(d) If a defendant fails to answer or appear as directed on a uniform snowmobile/boating complaint or by the district court judge, or fails to pay the fine imposed after judgment, the court may proceed under section 5704 of this title. (Added 1977, No. 207 (Adj. Sess.), § 3.)