(1) A court may use the procedure provided in this section only in a county with a population of more than 500,000.
(2) The court may proceed to make a determination without a hearing on a citation for a parking violation if:
(a) None of the registered owners of the vehicle appears within the time allowed at the court specified in the citation;
(b) Notice of the citation and the provisions of this section are mailed to the registered owner or owners of the vehicle at the address or addresses reflected in the records of the Department of Transportation; and
(c) No request for hearing or other appearance is filed with the court within 60 days after the mailing date of the notice required by paragraph (b) of this subsection.
(3) The court may proceed to make a determination without a hearing on a citation for a parking violation if at least one of the registered owners of the vehicle appears within the time allowed at the court specified in the citation and requests a hearing, but thereafter fails to appear at the time, date and court set for any subsequent hearing in the matter. If a determination is made under the provisions of this subsection, the court shall mail notice of any sentence and judgment to the registered owner or owners of the vehicle at the address or addresses reflected in the records of the Department of Transportation.
(4) A determination under this section shall be on the citation and on any evidence that the court may, in its discretion, determine to be appropriate.
(5) Upon making a determination under this section, the court may enter judgment and, if the determination is one of conviction, may impose a sentence of a fine within the limits established for the parking violation along with a money award for costs, assessments and other amounts authorized by law.
(6) A sentence to pay a fine under this section does not prevent:
(a) Taking any other action against the person as permitted by law for the person’s failure to comply, including, but not limited to, sentencing the person further as permitted by law after the person is brought to hearing.
(b) Following any procedures established by law when the person fails to appear.
(7) On motion and upon such terms as are just, the court may relieve a person from a judgment entered under this section upon a showing that the failure of the person to appear was due to mistake, inadvertence, surprise or excusable neglect. The motion must be made within a reasonable time, and in no event more than one year after entry of judgment in the matter.
(8) A judgment may be entered under this section only if the citation issued to the person contains a statement notifying the person that a judgment may be entered against the person up to the maximum amount of fines, assessments and other costs allowed by law for the parking violation if the person fails to appear at the time, date and court specified in the citation or fails to appear at subsequently scheduled hearings in the matter.
(9) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a judgment entered under this section does not create a judgment lien and cannot become a judgment lien by any means. [1997 c.801 §98; 2003 c.576 §172]
Section: Previous 153.755 153.760 153.765 153.766 153.770 153.772 153.800 153.805 153.808 153.810 153.820 153.990 153.992 153.995 153.997 NextLast modified: August 7, 2008