Section 40518 Of Article 2. Release Upon Promise To Appear From California Vehicle Code >> Division 17. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 2.
40518
. (a) Whenever a written notice to appear has been issued by a
peace officer or by a qualified employee of a law enforcement agency
on a form approved by the Judicial Council for an alleged violation
of Section 22451, or, based on an alleged violation of Section 21453,
21455, or 22101 recorded by an automated traffic enforcement system
pursuant to Section 21455.5 or 22451, and delivered by mail within 15
days of the alleged violation to the current address of the
registered owner of the vehicle on file with the department, with a
certificate of mailing obtained as evidence of service, an exact and
legible duplicate copy of the notice when filed with the magistrate
shall constitute a complaint to which the defendant may enter a plea.
Preparation and delivery of a notice to appear pursuant to this
section is not an arrest.
(b) (1) A notice to appear shall contain the name and address of
the person, the license plate number of the person's vehicle, the
violation charged, including a description of the offense, and the
time and place when, and where, the person may appear in court or
before a person authorized to receive a deposit of bail. The time
specified shall be at least 10 days after the notice to appear is
delivered. If, after the notice to appear has been issued, the citing
peace officer or qualified employee of a law enforcement agency
determines that, in the interest of justice, the citation or notice
should be dismissed, the citing agency may recommend, in writing, to
the magistrate or the judge that the case be dismissed. The
recommendation shall cite the reasons for the recommendation and be
filed with the court. If the magistrate or judge makes a finding that
there are grounds for dismissal, the finding shall be entered on the
record and the infraction dismissed.
(2) A notice to appear shall also contain all of the following
information:
(A) The methods by which the registered owner of the vehicle or
the alleged violator may view and discuss with the issuing agency,
both by telephone and in person, the evidence used to substantiate
the violation.
(B) The contact information of the issuing agency.
(c) (1) This section and Section 40520 do not preclude the issuing
agency or the manufacturer or supplier of the automated traffic
enforcement system from mailing a notice of nonliability to the
registered owner of the vehicle or the alleged violator prior to
issuing a notice to appear. The notice of nonliability shall be
substantively identical to the following form: