A Minor Misdemeanor Is A Citation
G.S. 15A-302 — a citation for a misdemeanor or infraction, and refusing it is not grounds for arrest
When. An officer may issue a citation to any person the officer has probable cause to believe has committed a misdemeanor or infraction. A citation is a directive that the person appear in court and answer the charge.
Refusing it. A copy of the citation is delivered to the person cited. Failure of the person to accept delivery is not grounds for an arrest or for requiring a bond.
What it says. The citation identifies the crime and its date, the person cited, and the officer, and directs the person to appear in a designated court at a designated time and date.
What happens if the person does not appear, and the offenses themselves, are set out in other sections that are not on this page. Whether an arrest was lawful in a particular case is a question for a licensed North Carolina attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- G.S. 15A-302 — Citation
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed North Carolina attorney.