§ 316. Disposition and records of traffic citations, warrants and complaints.

A.

Every police officer, upon issuing a traffic citation to an alleged violator of any of the provisions of this title relating to a moving violation, shall deposit a duplicate copy of the citation with the Chief of Police or his designee who shall cause the duplicate copy to be delivered to the appropriate records bureau.

B.

The Chief of Police or his designee may recommend dismissal of a traffic citation when it is obvious to the Chief of Police or his designee that the citation was erroneously issued, is patently faulty on its face or in the interests of justice. The Chief of Police or his designee shall write a memorandum to the Manager of the Criminal Division of the Legal Department recommending the dismissal of such citation with the facts and reasons for the recommendation.

C.

Upon the filing of such duplicate copy in the appropriate records bureau of the Police Department as aforesaid, such citation may be disposed of only by trial in the Municipal Court or by other official action by the Judge of the Municipal Court or a prosecuting officer of such Court.

D.

The Clerk of the Court shall maintain or cause to be maintained in connection with every traffic citation issued by a member of the Police Department a record of the disposition of the citation.

E.

The Clerk of the Court shall also maintain or cause to be maintained a record of all warrants issued by the Court on traffic violation charges which are delivered to the Police Department for service and of the final disposition of all warrants. The Police Department shall maintain a list of all warrants assigned to it for service and the officers to which such warrants are assigned.

F.

It shall be unlawful and official misconduct for any member of the Police Department, other officer or public employee to dispose of, alter or deface a traffic citation, any copy thereof or the record of the issuance or disposition of any traffic citation, complaint or warrant in a manner other than as required in this section.

(Ord. No. 16803; Ord. No. 21982, § 2, 12-18-2008)