<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>54873</law_id><section_number>46.2-388</section_number><catch_line>Uniform summons to be used for reportable motor vehicle law violations; citations</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>19.2-74</reference><reference>4.1-1121</reference><reference>46.2-341.20:7</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="46.2">Motor Vehicles</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="II">Titling, Registration and Licensure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="3">Licensure of Drivers</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="11">Accident Reports</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span>, after consultation with the Committee on District <span class="dictionary">Courts</span>, the <span class="dictionary">Superintendent</span> of State Police and the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span>, shall approve a form for the <span class="dictionary">summons</span> to be issued in either an electronic or paper format and all revisions to the form to be used by all <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officers</span> throughout the Commonwealth in cases of <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> <span class="dictionary">law</span> violations reportable to the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> under the provisions of &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Courts to keep full records of certain cases" href="/46.2-382/">46.2-382</a> and <a class="law" title="Courts to forward abstracts of records or furnish abstract data of conviction by electronic means in certain cases; records in office of Department; inspection; clerk's fee for reports" href="/46.2-383/">46.2-383</a> and for other <span class="dictionary">offenses</span> charged on a <span class="dictionary">summons</span> pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Issuance and service of summons in place of warrant in misdemeanor case; issuance of summons by special conservators of the peace" href="/19.2-74/">19.2-74</a>. The commencement and termination date for the use of the form and each revised version of the form shall be made by the <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span> after consultation with the Committee on District <span class="dictionary">Courts</span>, the <span class="dictionary">Superintendent</span> of State Police and the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span>. The <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agency issuing the <span class="dictionary">summons</span> shall determine whether to use an electronic or paper format.
			The form of the <span class="dictionary">summons</span> shall include multiple copies with the original to be used for <span class="dictionary">court</span> records and other copies in sufficient number to permit the use of one copy by the <span class="dictionary">courts</span> for purposes of filing abstracts of records with the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> as required by &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Courts to forward abstracts of records or furnish abstract data of conviction by electronic means in certain cases; records in office of Department; inspection; clerk's fee for reports" href="/46.2-383/">46.2-383</a> and shall be a form prepared by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> within the meaning of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Forms for and information to be contained in abstracts; certification" href="/46.2-386/">46.2-386</a>. The form of the <span class="dictionary">summons</span> shall also include appropriate space for use in cases of violation of either state <span class="dictionary">laws</span> or local <span class="dictionary">ordinances</span>. <a id="paragraph-201316" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-388/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> A separate <span class="dictionary">citation</span> which has been approved in the manner prescribed in subsection A shall be used for violations of &#xA7;&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/46.2-1122/">46.2-1122</a> through <a class="law" title="Weight limits for vehicles using interstate highways" href="/46.2-1127/">46.2-1127</a> and <a class="law" title="Crossing bridge or culvert by vehicle heavier than allowed; where weight signs to be erected" href="/46.2-1130/">46.2-1130</a>. The <span class="dictionary">citation</span> shall be directed to the <span class="dictionary">owner</span>, <span class="dictionary">operator</span> or other person responsible for the overweight violation, and shall advise him of: <a id="paragraph-201317" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-388/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The nature of the violation charged against him; <a id="paragraph-201318" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-388/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The amount of monetary fees, penalties, and <span class="dictionary">damages</span> that may be assessed for violations; <a id="paragraph-201319" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-388/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> The requirement that he either pay the fees, penalties, and <span class="dictionary">damages</span> in full or deliver a notice of his <span class="dictionary">intent</span> to contest the charge to the <span class="dictionary">Department</span>; <a id="paragraph-201320" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-388/#B3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> The procedures and time limits for making the payments or contesting such charge, which shall include the <span class="dictionary">trial</span> date, which shall in no event be earlier than 60 days after the violation; and <a id="paragraph-201321" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-388/#B4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> The consequences of a failure to timely pay or contest the charge. <a id="paragraph-201322" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-388/#B5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> A separate <span class="dictionary">citation</span> that has been approved in the manner prescribed in subsection A shall be used for violations of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Civil penalty for violation of license, registration, and tax requirements and vehicle size limitations" href="/46.2-613.1/">46.2-613.1</a>. The <span class="dictionary">citation</span> shall be directed to the <span class="dictionary">owner</span>, <span class="dictionary">operator</span>, or other person responsible for the violation and shall advise him of: <a id="paragraph-201323" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-388/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The nature of the violation charged against him; <a id="paragraph-201324" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-388/#C1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The amount of monetary fees and penalties that may be assessed for violations; <a id="paragraph-201325" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-388/#C2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> The requirement that he either pay the fee and penalties in full or deliver a notice of his <span class="dictionary">intent</span> to contest the charge to the <span class="dictionary">Department</span>; <a id="paragraph-201326" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-388/#C3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> The procedures and time limits for making the payments or contesting such charge which shall include the <span class="dictionary">trial</span> date, which shall in no event be earlier than 60 days after the violation; and <a id="paragraph-201327" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-388/#C4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> The consequences of a failure to timely pay or contest the charge. <a id="paragraph-201328" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-388/#C5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1968, c. 712, &#xA7; 46.1-416.1; 1977, cc. 81, 585; 1984, c. 24; 1986, c. 588; 1989, c. 727; 2005, c. 589; 2011, cc. 62, 73.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
