Any person notified to appear before the clerk of a district
court as hereinbefore provided may so appear and confess the offense
charged, either personally or through a duly authorized agent or by
mailing to the town clerk of the municipality within which the violation
occurred together with the notice such specific sum of money not exceeding
$300 as the town shall fix as penalty for violation of the ordinance,
By-Law, rule or regulation. Such payment shall if mailed be made only
by postal not, money order or certified check. Upon receipt of such
notice, the town clerk shall forthwith notify the district court clerk
of such payment and the receipt by the district court clerk of such
notification shall operate as a final disposition of the case. An
appearance under this section shall not be deemed to be a criminal
proceeding. No person so notified to appear before the clerk of a
district court shall be required to report to any probation officer,
and no record of the case shall be entered in any probation records.
If any person so notified to appear before the clerk of a district
court fails to pay fine provided hereunder within the time specified
or, having appeared, does not confess the offense before the clerk
or pay the sum of money fixed as a penalty after a hearing and finding
as provided in the preceding section, the clerk shall notify the enforcing
person who issued the original notice, who shall determine whether
to apply for the issuance of a complaint for the violation of the
appropriate By-Law, rule or regulation.
As use in this article the term "district court" shall include,
with the limits of their jurisdiction, the divisions of the housing
court department of the trial court. The notice to appear provided
for herein shall be printed in such form as the chief justice of the
district courts shall prescribe for the district courts. Said notice
may also include notice of violations pursuant to Section 11C of Chapter
85, Section 18A of Chapter 90, Section 16A of Chapter 270,
and Section 173A of Chapter 140. Any fines imposed under the provisions
of this article shall ensure to the city or town for such use as said
city or town may direct. This procedure shall not be used for the
enforcement of municipal traffic rules and regulations. Chapter 90C
shall be the exclusive method of enforcement of municipal traffic
rules and regulations.