                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

TRAFFIC INFRACTIONS WITHIN AUTHORITY OF TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS CLERK; SCHEDULE OF
FINES; PREPAYMENT OF LOCAL ORDINANCES (§ 16.1-69.40:1)

A. The Supreme Court shall by rule, which may from time to time be amended,
supplemented or repealed, but which shall be uniform in its application
throughout the Commonwealth, designate the traffic infractions for which a
pretrial waiver of appearance, plea of guilty and fine payment may be accepted.
Such designated infractions shall include violations of §§ 46.2-830.1,
46.2-878.2 and 46.2-1242 or any parallel local ordinances. Notwithstanding any
rule of the Supreme Court, a person charged with a traffic offense that is
listed as prepayable in the Uniform Fine Schedule may prepay his fines and costs
without court appearance whether or not he was involved in an accident. The
prepayable fine amount for a violation of § 46.2-878.2 shall be $200 plus an
amount per mile-per-hour in excess of posted speed limits, as authorized in §
46.2-878.3.
			Such infractions shall not include:

   1. Indictable offenses;

   2. [Repealed.]

   3. Operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating
   liquor or a narcotic or habit-producing drug, or permitting another person,
   who is under the influence of intoxicating liquor or a narcotic or
   habit-producing drug, to operate a motor vehicle owned by the defendant or in
   his custody or control;

   4. Reckless driving;

   5. Leaving the scene of an accident;

   6. Driving while under suspension or revocation of driving privileges;

   7. Driving without being licensed to drive.

   8. [Repealed.]

B. An appearance may be made in person or in writing by mail to a clerk of court
or in person before a magistrate, prior to any date fixed for trial in court.
Any person so appearing may enter a waiver of trial and a plea of guilty and pay
the fine and any civil penalties established for the offense charged, with
costs. He shall, prior to the plea, waiver, and payment, be informed of his
right to stand trial, that his signature to a plea of guilty will have the same
force and effect as a judgment of court, and that the record of conviction will
be sent to the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles.

C. The Supreme Court, upon the recommendation of the Committee on District
Courts, shall establish a schedule, within the limits prescribed by law, of the
amounts of fines and any civil penalties to be imposed, designating each
infraction specifically. The schedule, which may from time to time be amended,
supplemented or repealed, shall be uniform in its application throughout the
Commonwealth. Such schedule shall not be construed or interpreted so as to limit
the discretion of any trial judge trying individual cases at the time fixed for
trial. The rule of the Supreme Court establishing the schedule shall be
prominently posted in the place where the fines are paid. Fines and costs shall
be paid in accordance with the provisions of this Code or any rules or
regulations promulgated thereunder.

D. Fines imposed under local traffic infraction ordinances that do not parallel
provisions of state law and fulfill the criteria set out in subsection A may be
prepayable in the manner set forth in subsection B if such ordinances appear in
a schedule entered by order of the local circuit courts. The chief judge of each
circuit may establish a schedule of the fines, within the limits prescribed by
local ordinances, to be imposed for prepayment of local ordinances designating
each offense specifically. Upon the entry of such order it shall be forwarded
within 10 days to the Supreme Court of Virginia by the clerk of the local
circuit court. The schedule, which from time to time may be amended,
supplemented or repealed, shall be uniform in its application throughout the
circuit. Such schedule shall not be construed or interpreted so as to limit the
discretion of any trial judge trying individual cases at the time fixed for
trial. This schedule shall be prominently posted in the place where fines are
paid. Fines and costs shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of this
Code or any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.

HISTORY: 1977, c. 585; 1978, c. 605; 1979, c. 510; 1983, c. 388; 1994, c. 912;
1998, c. 209; 2000, c. 841; 2003, c. 282; 2004, c. 350; 2011, c. 694; 2017, c.
504; 2020, cc. 1227, 1246.