Section 40002 Of Article 1. Violation Of Code From California Vehicle Code >> Division 17. >> Chapter 1. >> Article 1.
40002
. (a) (1) If there is a violation of Section 40001, an owner
or any other person subject to Section 40001, who was not driving the
vehicle involved in the violation, may be mailed a written notice to
appear. An exact and legible duplicate copy of that notice when
filed with the court, in lieu of a verified complaint, is a complaint
to which the defendant may plead "guilty."
(2) If, however, the defendant fails to appear in court or does
not deposit lawful bail, or pleads other than "guilty" of the offense
charged, a verified complaint shall be filed which shall be deemed
to be an original complaint, and thereafter proceedings shall be had
as provided by law, except that a defendant may, by an agreement in
writing, subscribed by the defendant and filed with the court, waive
the filing of a verified complaint and elect that the prosecution may
proceed upon a written notice to appear.
(3) A verified complaint pursuant to paragraph (2) shall include a
paragraph that informs the person that unless he or she appears in
the court designated in the complaint within 21 days after being
given the complaint and answers the charge, renewal of registration
of the vehicle involved in the offense may be precluded by the
department, or a warrant of arrest may be issued against him or her.
(b) (1) If a person mailed a notice to appear pursuant to
paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) fails to appear in court or deposit
bail, a warrant of arrest shall not be issued based on the notice to
appear, even if that notice is verified. An arrest warrant may be
issued only after a verified complaint pursuant to paragraph (2) of
subdivision (a) is given the person and the person fails to appear in
court to answer that complaint.
(2) If a person mailed a notice to appear pursuant to paragraph
(1) of subdivision (a) fails to appear in court or deposit bail, the
court may give by mail to the person a notice of noncompliance. A
notice of noncompliance shall include a paragraph that informs the
person that unless he or she appears in the court designated in the
notice to appear within 21 days after being given by mail the notice
of noncompliance and answers the charge on the notice to appear, or
pays the applicable fine and penalties if an appearance is not
required, renewal of registration of the vehicle involved in the
offense may be precluded by the department.
(c) A verified complaint filed pursuant to this section shall
conform to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 948) of Title 5 of Part
2 of the Penal Code.
(d) (1) The giving by mail of a notice to appear pursuant to
paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) or a notice of noncompliance
pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) shall be done in a
manner prescribed by Section 22.
(2) The verified complaint pursuant to paragraph (2) of
subdivision (a) shall be given in a manner prescribed by Section 22.