Receipt of Guilty Pleas by Magistrates in Prosecutions for Traffic Infractions or Boating Violations

Pursuant to Section 12-17-251, magistrates may receive pleas of guilty in traffic infraction and boating violation prosecutions, but may not receive pleas in matters involving any of the following: (1) Violations resulting in personal injury. (2) Operation of a motor vehicle or vessel while intoxicated. (3) Reckless driving or reckless operation of a vessel. (4) Felonies or indictable offenses. (5) Operation of a motor vehicle or vessel without an operator’s license or boater safety certification, as applicable, or while the license or certification is suspended or revoked. (6) A defendant convicted of two or more previous traffic offenses or boating violations in the preceding 12 months. (Acts 1975, No. 1205, p. 2384, §4-106; Act 2023-363, §3.)