A Citation and the Court Date
AS 12.25.230 — failing to appear on a citation is a class A misdemeanor, and a class B where a scheduled fine applies
An officer who cites someone instead of taking them to a judge writes a citation, and the person accepts at least one copy. The court date is at least two working days out for a misdemeanor or class C felony, and at least five working days out for an infraction or a violation.
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| Failing to answer | The offense |
|---|---|
| Failing to answerA citation, by not appearing in court | The offenseClass A misdemeanor |
| Failing to answerA citation with a scheduled bail or fine, by not paying or appearing | The offenseClass B misdemeanor |
Either is a crime however the original charge turns out. A person who appears on an offense with a scheduled bail or fine and is found guilty cannot be penalized more than that scheduled amount.
Sources for this section (2)
- AS 12.25.190 — When person to be given five-day notice to appear in court
- AS 12.25.230 — Failure to obey citation; limitation on penalty
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Alaska attorney.