Walk It Through: The Citation in the Glovebox
A misdemeanor citation instead of jail, a court date forgotten, and the crime that is.
An officer stops someone for a misdemeanor and writes a citation instead of taking them to jail.
Two things a person in this spot might do. Picking one shows what the law says about it.
A misdemeanor citation for an adult. Infraction tickets paid by mail, warrants issued for the missed date, and felony summonses are left out.
A practice walkthrough, not a prediction of how any real one will go. Legal information, not legal advice.
Words this turns on
Terms with a legal meaning that is narrower than the everyday one. Each links to the definition and the authority behind it.
- CitationA written notice to appear an officer may give instead of taking someone to a judge, with a court date at least two working days out for a misdemeanor and five for an infraction or violation.
- Class A misdemeanorThe more serious misdemeanor class, with up to one year in jail and a fine up to $25,000.
- ViolationA noncriminal offense punishable only by a fine, up to $500 unless its own law says otherwise, with none of the disabilities of a criminal conviction.