CODE OF VIRGINIA

PROCEDURE IN NONTRAFFIC OFFENSES FOR WHICH PREPAYMENT IS AUTHORIZED (§
19.2-254.2)

In any prepayable nontraffic offense case as defined in § 16.1-69.40:2 a
defendant may elect to enter a written appearance and waive court hearing.
Arraignment is not necessary when waived by the accused or his counsel, when the
accused fails to appear, or when such written appearance has been elected.An
accused may plead not guilty, guilty, or nolo contendere; and the court shall
not refuse to accept a plea of nolo contendere. A plea of guilty may be entered
in writing without court appearance.When an accused tenders payment without
executing a written waiver of court hearing and entry of guilty plea, such
tender of payment shall itself be deemed a waiver of court hearing and entry of
guilty plea.  Likewise when a person charged with a prepayable nontraffic
offense fails to enter a written or court appearance, he shall be deemed to have
waived court hearing and the case may be heard in his absence. In all other
respects prepayable traffic offenses shall be treated as all other misdemeanors.

HISTORY: 1978, c. 605; 1992, c. 54.