Del. Code tit. 21, § 801 Applicability.
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to civil penalties created pursuant to §§ 4101(d) and 4802 of this title and to other civil penalties provided for in this title.
Provisions Regarding Civil Traffic Offenses
Del. Code tit. 21, ch. 8
in effectDel. Code tit. 21, § 802 Authority to stop.
Any police officer is authorized to make an administrative stop for purposes of enforcing a civil traffic statute, upon a reasonable and articulable suspicion that a violation of such statute has occurred.
Del. Code tit. 21, § 803 Right of transfer.
The provisions of § 5303 of Title 11 shall not apply to a civil traffic offense. However, the Justice of the Peace Court may establish procedures for transferring to the Court of Common Pleas a civil traffic offense with a criminal offense which occurred in the same incident.
Del. Code tit. 21, § 804 Jurisdiction over certain children.
The Justice of the Peace Court shall have jurisdiction over children age 16 or 17 years of age or older charged with a civil traffic offense except when said child is also charged in the same incident with having violated 1 or more offenses specified in § 927 of Title 10, in which event the entire case shall be heard in the Family Court. When the Justice of the Peace Court has jurisdiction over a child charged with a civil traffic offense, the provisions of this chapter shall apply. Section 921(10) of Title 10 or Justice of the Peace Court Civil Rule 55 notwithstanding, such child may pay a civil penalty by voluntary assessment and a default judgment may be entered against such child in any instance in which it would be entered against an adult.
Del. Code tit. 21, § 805 Payment of penalties and costs.
(a) Payment of penalties and costs. — Upon being found responsible for a civil traffic offense, all the costs shall be paid by the party found responsible.
(b) The videophone assessment provided for in § 4101(d) of Title 11 shall not be assessed.
(c) The victim’s compensation penalty assessment provided for in § 9016 of Title 11 shall not be assessed.
(d) Court costs shall be governed by Justice of the Peace Court rule, consistent with § 9801 of Title 10.
(e) Immediately upon imposition by a court of a civil penalty or costs or both, including a default judgment, the same shall be a judgment against the person found responsible for the full amount of the penalty or costs or both. If not paid promptly upon its imposition or in accordance with the terms of the order of the court, the clerk shall, upon motion, cause the judgment to be transferred to the civil judgment docket whence it may be executed and enforced or transferred in the same manner as other judgments of the court; provided, however, that where a stay of execution is otherwise permitted by law such a stay shall not be granted as a matter of right but only within the discretion of the court.
(f) Any governmental entity to whom civil penalties or costs are payable pursuant to subsection (j) of this section or any other provision of law may pursue execution on such judgment.
(g) Upon any reversal of a finding of responsibility, the State Treasurer shall remit to each person, or to the attorney of such person, any civil penalty or costs or both which was later set aside by a court of higher jurisdiction upon a certiorari or appeal from the lower court, as provided in § 4103 of Title 11 for fines.
(h) When a court imposes a civil penalty, costs or both, the court may direct that the defendant pay the entire amount at the time of imposition or may direct that the defendant pay a specified portion of the civil penalty, or costs, or both at designated periodic intervals. The Court may order the defendant to participate in work referral until the civil penalties and costs are paid. Failure to participate in court-ordered work referral shall not result in contempt of court. Failure to participate in court-ordered work referral may result in the transfer of the judgment to the Office of State Court Collections Enforcement to be collected according to § 4104 of Title 11.
(i) For purposes of ensuring the payment of civil penalties and costs and the enforcement of any orders imposed, the court shall retain jurisdiction over the person found responsible for a civil traffic offense until any civil penalty or costs imposed are paid in full. The court may discharge the civil penalty and costs of any person found responsible when the court receives evidence that such person is deceased.
(j) The provisions of § 706 of this title shall be applicable to the disposition of amounts collected for civil penalties and related costs.
Del. Code tit. 21, § 806 Payment by voluntary assessment.
Civil traffic offenses shall be payable by mail to the voluntary assessment center or other applicable entity. The provisions of this chapter shall govern the failure to pay a voluntary assessment for a civil traffic offense.
Del. Code tit. 21, § 807 Default judgment.
If a defendant:
(1) Requests a hearing and fails to appear on a civil traffic charge; or
(2) Fails to either pay the voluntary assessment within the time specified on the notice or summons, or to notify the court or voluntary assessment center or applicable entity within the required time, that the defendant wishes to have a hearing on the charge,
a default judgment may be entered against the defendant. Such judgments may be vacated or enforced consistent with § 805(e) of this title.
Del. Code tit. 21, § 808 Forwarding of names to the Division of Motor Vehicles.
(a) Except as to persons operating a commercial motor vehicle in violation of § 4176C of this title, § 703A of this title shall not apply to persons found responsible for civil traffic offenses. No record of a finding of responsible for a civil traffic violation shall be forwarded to the Division of Motor Vehicles and no entry shall be made on the person’s driving record for a civil traffic violation.
(b) The court, voluntary assessment center or other authorized entity shall forward to the Division of Motor Vehicles the name and address of a person who has:
(1) Been found responsible in court for a civil traffic offense and been ordered to pay a civil penalty, costs, or both, and who fails to pay such civil penalty, costs, or both at the time of the order or in accordance with a payment schedule;
(2) Failed to either pay the voluntary assessment within the time specified on the summons or notice or notify the court or other authorized entity within the required time, that the person wishes to have a hearing on the charge, or, submit an affidavit stating that the person was not the driver, if applicable; or
(3) Has requested a trial on the charge and has failed to appear at the time and place set for trial.
Del. Code tit. 21, § 809 Suspension of license.
When a person’s name and address is forwarded to the Division of Motor Vehicles pursuant to § 808(b) of this title and the offense was one for which the person received personal service of the notice or summons, or the offense was one for which service was made by mail and the person has either requested a hearing and failed to appear or been found responsible for the offense and failed to pay the civil penalty, costs, or both, either at the time of the order or in accordance with a payment schedule, the Division of Motor Vehicles:
(1) Shall forthwith suspend the driver’s license of a resident of this State, unless the person’s name and address was forwarded to the Division of Motor Vehicles under § 709(j) of this title, in which case the provisions of § 709(j) of this title shall apply.
(2) May suspend the driving privileges in this State of a nonresident of this State and immediately advise the motor vehicle administrator of the state in which the person is a resident that the person’s license to drive be suspended until proof is provided that the person has paid the civil penalty, costs, or both, has appeared in court following a default in appearance or payment and made arrangements to pay the civil penalty, costs, or both, or has had a default judgment vacated and been found not responsible.
Del. Code tit. 21, § 810 Refusal of registration renewal.
When a person’s name and address is forwarded to the Division of Motor Vehicles pursuant to § 808(b) of this title and the offense was 1 for which the person received service of the notice or summons by mail and the person has not responded within the required time by either paying the civil penalty or requesting a hearing or, submitting an affidavit stating that the person was not the driver, if applicable, the Division of Motor Vehicles may deny the renewal of the registration of the owner’s vehicle operated at the time the summons was issued. The Division shall register any vehicle for which it has refused registration upon proof that the person has paid the civil penalty, costs, or both, or has appeared in court following a default in appearance or payment and made arrangements to pay the civil penalty or costs or both or has had a default judgment vacated and been found not responsible.
Del. Code tit. 21, § 811 Appeal.
Any appeals of civil penalties assessed under this chapter shall be taken in the same manner as provided in § 708 of this title.
Del. Code tit. 21, § 812 Court rules or policies.
The Justice of the Peace Court, upon approval by the Chief Justice, may develop court rules, administrative directives, or other forms of policies for handling of civil traffic offenses.
Source: DE Code (Official Site)URL: https://delcode.delaware.gov/title21/c008/index.htmlFetched: 6/28/2026