                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

PROCEDURE IN NONTRAFFIC OFFENSES FOR WHICH PREPAYMENT IS AUTHORIZED (§
19.2-254.2)

In any prepayable nontraffic offense case as defined in § 16.1-69.40:2 a
defendant may elect to enter a written appearance and waive court hearing.
Arraignment is not necessary when waived by the accused or his counsel, when the
accused fails to appear, or when such written appearance has been elected.
		An accused may plead not guilty, guilty, or nolo contendere; and the court
shall not refuse to accept a plea of nolo contendere. A plea of guilty may be
entered in writing without court appearance.
		When an accused tenders payment without executing a written waiver of court
hearing and entry of guilty plea, such tender of payment shall itself be deemed
a waiver of court hearing and entry of guilty plea. Likewise when a person
charged with a prepayable nontraffic offense fails to enter a written or court
appearance, he shall be deemed to have waived court hearing and the case may be
heard in his absence. In all other respects prepayable traffic offenses shall be
treated as all other misdemeanors.

HISTORY: 1978, c. 605; 1992, c. 54.