19.2-254.2 - Procedure in nontraffic offenses for which prepayment is authorized.
§ 19.2-254.2. Procedure in nontraffic offenses for which prepayment isauthorized.
In any prepayable nontraffic offense case as defined in § 16.1-69.40:2 adefendant may elect to enter a written appearance and waive court hearing.Arraignment is not necessary when waived by the accused or his counsel, whenthe accused fails to appear, or when such written appearance has been elected.
An accused may plead not guilty, guilty, or nolo contendere; and the courtshall not refuse to accept a plea of nolo contendere. A plea of guilty may beentered in writing without court appearance.
When an accused tenders payment without executing a written waiver of courthearing and entry of guilty plea, such tender of payment shall itself bedeemed a waiver of court hearing and entry of guilty plea. Likewise when aperson charged with a prepayable nontraffic offense fails to enter a writtenor court appearance, he shall be deemed to have waived court hearing and thecase may be heard in his absence. In all other respects prepayable trafficoffenses shall be treated as all other misdemeanors.
(1978, c. 605; 1992, c. 54.)