[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Carthage 1-7-1983 by L.L. No. 2-1983; amended in its entirety 10-16-2023 by L.L. No. 5-2023. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
For improving the administration of justice in the Village of Carthage in the disposition of offenses in relation to traffic violations, the Village Court thereof is hereby authorized to establish a Traffic Violation Bureau. Any other prior Traffic Violation Bureau so established in the Village is hereby dissolved, and any prior authorization is hereby revoked.
The Traffic Violation Bureau shall be in the charge of the Village Court and such persons as he or she may designate.
The Traffic Violation Bureau shall dispose of violations of traffic laws, local laws or rules and regulations involving parking of automobiles for which fixed fines are established by permitting a person charged with an offense, within the limitations herein stated, to answer, within a specified time, at the Traffic Violation Bureau, either in person or by written power of attorney, by paying a prescribed fine and, in writing, by waiving a hearing in court; or by pleading guilty to the charge and authorizing the person in charge of the Bureau to make such a plea and to pay such a fine in court.
Acceptance of the prescribed fine and power of attorney by the Bureau shall be deemed a complete satisfaction for the violation, and the violator shall be given a receipt which so states.
If a person charged with a traffic violation does not answer as hereinbefore prescribed within 48 hours after the service of the summons upon him, the Bureau shall cause an appearance ticket to be issued directing that person to appear before the court to answer for such summons.
Any person who, within the preceding 12 months, has been guilty of a number of parking violations in excess of such maximum number as may be designated by the court, or of three or more violations other than parking violations, shall not be permitted to appear and answer to a subsequent violation at the Traffic Violation Bureau but must appear in court at a time specified by the Bureau.
The Traffic Violation Bureau shall not be authorized to deprive a person of his right to counsel or to prevent him from exercising his right to appear in court to answer to, explain or defend any charge of a violation of any traffic law, local law, rule or regulation.
The Village Justice shall designate the fines to be paid for offenses, which may be satisfied at the Bureau as hereinbefore stated, provided that such fines are within the limits established for penalties for such offenses.
The Traffic Violation Bureau shall keep a record of all violations of which each person has been guilty, whether such guilt was established in court or in the Bureau, and also a record of all fines collected and the disposition thereof.