Enforcement; Arrest, Bail and Appeal

Del. Code tit. 21, ch. 7

in effect

Del. Code tit. 21, § 701 Arrest without warrant for motor vehicle violations.

(a) The Secretary of Safety and Homeland Security, the Secretary of Safety and Homeland Security’s deputies, Division of Motor Vehicles investigators, State Police, state detectives and other police officers authorized by law to make arrests for violation of the motor vehicle and traffic laws of this State, provided such officers are in uniform or displaying a badge of office or an official police identification folder, may arrest a person without a warrant: (1) For violations of this title committed in their presence; or (2) For violations of § 4169 of this title, relating to speed violations, when the speed is determined by radar, electronic devices, electromechanical devices, audio sensor devices, visual sensor devices or aerial spotting, even though the officer making the arrest did not actually observe the radar speed meter or observe the violation from the aircraft, provided such arresting officer is in a position to observe the vehicle being detected and provided that the officer is working in conjunction with the reading or observing officer and is immediately advised of the violation and that the vehicle being apprehended is the vehicle detected; or (3) For violations of § 4108(a)(3) of this title relating to red traffic lights, when the violation is determined by personal observation by another law-enforcement officer who communicates the information to the arresting officer by radio or other telecommunications device, provided that the arresting officer is working in conjunction with the observing officer, the arresting officer is immediately advised of the violation and the vehicle being apprehended is the vehicle detected; or (4) For violations of § 4176C(a) of this title relating to electronic communication devices, when the violation is determined by personal observation by another law-enforcement officer who communicates the information to the arresting officer by radio or other telecommunications device, provided that the arresting officer is working in conjunction with the observing officer, the arresting officer is immediately advised of the violation and the vehicle being apprehended is the vehicle detected; (5) For violations of § 4802(a)(1) or (2) or § 4803 of this title relating to seat belts, when the violation is determined by personal observation by another law-enforcement officer who communicates the information to the arresting officer by radio or other telecommunications device, provided that the arresting officer is working in conjunction with the observing officer, the arresting officer is immediately advised of the violation and the vehicle being apprehended is the vehicle detected; or (6) For violations of § 4172 of this title relating to speed exhibitions, drag races and other speed contests, when the violation is determined by personal observation, video surveillance device, other method of identifying the vehicle, or a review of any existing video recording of the violation. The violation may also be determined by personal observation by another law-enforcement officer who immediately communicates the information to the arresting officer, provided the arresting officer is working in conjunction with the observing officer, and the vehicle being apprehended is the vehicle detected. (b) Any police officer authorized to arrest without warrant under subsection (a) of this section is further authorized at the scene of a motor vehicle accident, upon reasonable and probable cause to believe, based upon personal investigation which may include information obtained from eyewitnesses, that a violation has been committed by any person then and there present, to arrest such person without a warrant of arrest. (c) Any arrests for violations of § 4168 or § 4169 of this title or any local ordinance equivalent thereof by a municipal, town or city police department within its jurisdiction as defined by its charter on a state highway shall occur only if: (1) A “reduced speed ahead” sign is posted at a sufficient distance as determined by the Department of Transportation prior to the start of the speed zone being enforced if the speed limit enforced is less than 55 miles per hour or a “speed limit 55” (or 65, as appropriate) “strictly enforced” sign is posted at a sufficient distance as determined by the Department of Transportation prior to the start of the speed zone being enforced; (2) A speed limit sign with the limit is posted at the start of the speed zone; (3) A yellow “strictly enforced” sign is posted below the speed limit sign; (4) An “entering corporate limits of ” sign, with the name of the city, town or municipality inserted on the sign, is posted at the corporate limits; (5) A “leaving corporate limits of ” sign, with the name of the city, town or municipality inserted on the sign, is posted at the end of the corporate limits; and (6) Any signs required under this subsection shall be installed by the Department of Transportation, with the costs borne by the Department of Transportation. Said signs shall be no less than 2′ by 3′ in size, and shall be posted on the left and right sides of the highway being monitored. (d) “State highways,” as used in subsection (c) of this section, include the following: (1) U.S. 13; (2) U.S. 113; (3) Delaware Route 1 (SR 1); (4) Interstate I-95; (5) Interstate I-495; (6) Delaware Route 141; (7) Delaware Route 2; (8) Delaware Route 896; (9) Delaware Route 4; (10) U.S. Route 40; (11) U.S. Route 301; (12) U.S. 202; and (13) Interstate I-295. (e) No municipal, town or city police department shall operate any speed enforcement equipment outside of its corporate limits, notwithstanding any municipal charter provision or provision of this Code to the contrary.

Del. Code tit. 21, § 702 Failure to answer summons; penalty.

(a) Whoever fails to answer any summons to appear in any court of competent jurisdiction to answer for any violation of the motor vehicle laws of this State, after notice thereof served personally or securely fastened to the motor vehicle of which such person is the owner or operator, shall be fined, for the first offense, not less than $25 nor more than $50. For each subsequent like offense, such person shall be fined not less than $50 nor more than $100, or imprisoned not less than 2 nor more than 15 days or both. (b) The offense set forth in subsection (a) of this section above shall not be charged in any case in which a court of competent jurisdiction has already issued a capias or bench warrant for the failure to answer the original summons, or in any case where the defendant’s driver’s license or driving privileges have been suspended as a result of failure to pay the summons through voluntary assessment pursuant to § 709(j) of this title.

Del. Code tit. 21, § 703 Jurisdiction of offenses.

(a) A person arrested without a warrant for a violation of any section of this title, or arrested for any moving traffic violation or any municipal ordinance regulating traffic within its territorial limits as set forth in Chapter 41 of this title shall have such case heard and determined by a justice of the peace. (b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, the arresting officer may issue a summons to the person arrested for an appearance at a subsequent date before a justice of the peace. (c) The arresting officer shall take the person arrested without a warrant, or shall summon the person arrested to appear at a subsequent date, before a Justice of the Peace Court which is located in the same county wherein the violation occurred, unless a Justice of the Peace Court located in another county is closer to the place where the violation occurred, in which case the arresting officer may take the person arrested without a warrant, or may summon the person arrested to appear at a subsequent date, before said Court. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any case in which a person is arrested or issued a summons within the corporate limits of the city of Milford for a violation of a provision of this title, with the exception of violations of § 4177 of this title, shall be heard and adjudicated in the nearest available Justice of the Peace Court location in Kent County. Violations of § 4177 of this title within the corporate limits of the city of Milford may be initiated or transferred to any Justice of the Peace Court location so designated by the Justice of the Peace Court to hear such cases. Once properly within the jurisdiction of a particular Justice of the Peace Court location, that location shall retain jurisdiction until final adjudication, unless a transfer of venue is permitted by statute or court rule. (d) Anything else in this or any other chapter or title notwithstanding, those proceedings in the Justice of the Peace Courts specified by court rule may be conducted by audiovisual device. Audiovisual monitors shall be situated in the courtroom and where the defendant is present so as to provide the public, the court and the defendant with a view of the proceedings. Such proceedings may be conducted by a Justice of the Peace Court in the same or another county from that in which the defendant is physically located. (e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section to the contrary, in those incorporated municipalities which provide duly constituted alderman’s courts or mayor’s courts, the alderman and mayor shall continue to hear and adjudicate those cases in which a person is arrested without a warrant and where the alderman’s court or the mayor’s court is the court of original jurisdiction. As justice requires, the alderman’s court or the mayor’s court may administratively transfer a case that would be within the jurisdiction of that court to the Justice of the Peace Court. (f) Notwithstanding subsection (e) of this section, no alderman, mayor or other municipal official shall be authorized to adjudicate any alleged moving traffic violation unless said court complies with the following: (1) All convictions in said alderman’s court or mayor’s court for moving traffic violations and the disposition of those cases shall become a matter of record to be filed with the State Division of Motor Vehicles. Records of all such convictions shall be forwarded to the Division no later than 10 days after disposition of the case. (2) The adjudicating official shall receive a salary but no other compensation for performing such official’s duties. All fees, fines, costs and other funds collected by the court in the course of its business shall be deposited to the account of the municipality from which the adjudicating official derives authority. (g) Superior Court shall have jurisdiction to issue writs of mandamus to adjudicating officials of any alderman’s court or mayor’s court to compel compliance with this section.

Del. Code tit. 21, § 703A Reporting of offenses to the Division of Motor Vehicles by the courts.

All record convictions for any person for violations of this title, Title 4, Title 10, Title 11 and Title 16, which apply to motor vehicle violations, the suspension and/or revocation of a license and/or driving privileges shall be reported within 30 days to the Division of Motor Vehicles by each court within the State. Such reporting shall be deemed acceptable if in written form or by electronic data transfer. The original conviction documents shall be retained by the court and forwarded to the Division upon request.

Del. Code tit. 21, § 704 Jurisdiction over certain children; notice that child has been taken into custody.

(a) Justices of the peace shall have jurisdiction over a child 16 or 17 years of age or older charged with having violated this title, except as provided in § 927 of Title 10 and except when said child is charged with having violated 1 or more of the offenses specified in § 927 of Title 10 and, in the same incident, is charged with having violated other Title 21 offenses not specified in § 927 of Title 10, in which event the entire case shall be heard in the Family Court. (b) Justices of the peace and arresting officers shall conform to the procedure for advising the accused of all rights of election of trial in the Court of Common Pleas as provided in § 5901 of Title 11. (c) Section 703 of this title shall also be applicable to all alleged offenders. (d) Justices of the peace shall adhere to the procedures, where applicable, as specified in Chapter 9 of Title 10, for offenders over whom they have jurisdiction pursuant to this section. (e) Any peace officer having taken a child into custody or any justice of the peace before whom said child is brought by a peace officer shall make a reasonable attempt to notify the person having the care of the child that the child has been taken into custody. (f) The jurisdiction of the Family Court in matters involving the violation of this title by children 16 years of age or over is hereby terminated, with the exception of those offenses over which the Family Court has expressly retained jurisdiction under § 927 of Title 10 and except for such actions for the violation of this title which were commenced prior to August 5, 1976.

Del. Code tit. 21, § 705 Bail.

In the event of an arrest for the violation of any section of this title, if the defendant is unable to give sufficient bail for a hearing or for the defendant’s presence at court, the justice of the peace before whom the defendant is first taken may accept as a forfeit, conditioned upon the defendant’s appearance, a sum of money equal in amount to the maximum fines which could be imposed for the offense charged and the costs or in lieu of such bail or forfeit may accept any article of sufficient value or hold in custody a motor vehicle found in the possession of the defendant. Such justice of the peace after the trial of the defendant, if sufficient bail according to law has not been given in the meantime, shall make such order as to the disposal of such motor vehicle or other articles as to the justice of the peace seems just and proper.

Del. Code tit. 21, § 706 Disposition of fines and costs.

(a) All fines collected for the violation of any of the provisions of this title, in the limits of any county, incorporated city or town in this State where arrests are procured by the authorized representatives of that county, incorporated city or town, shall be paid to that county, incorporated city or town within which such offense was committed for the use of that county, incorporated city or town. Nothing in this section shall be construed to entitle any county to fines, penalties or forfeitures arising from an arrest made under this title by an authorized representative of that county for a violation committed within any incorporated city or town. All the fines, penalties and forfeitures imposed and collected in any county of this State for violation of any of the laws of this title in relation to motor vehicles, where the arrests are procured by the authorized representatives of the Department of Safety and Homeland Security, shall inure and be paid to the State Treasurer for the General Fund. Such fines, penalties and forfeitures shall be collected as other fines, penalties and forfeitures are collected under the laws of this State, and the officers collecting them shall make a monthly report thereof to the State Treasurer on blanks to be furnished for that purpose by the Department of Safety and Homeland Security. All costs collected for the violation of any of the provisions of this title shall be paid to the jurisdiction whose court imposed said costs. (b) All fines and costs collected as a result of radar or other speed timing devices, where the device is operated to determine speed beyond the corporate limits of an incorporated city or town but within the jurisdiction of the extended corporate limits provided by the applicable municipal charter, shall be paid to the State Treasurer for the General Fund. (c) Violation, refusal or neglect to comply with any of the provisions regarding the disposal of fines and forfeitures as provided in subsection (a) of this section shall constitute misconduct in office and shall be ground for removal therefrom.

Del. Code tit. 21, § 707 Sunday hearings; bail.

(a) Any justice of the peace or mayor may hear and determine cases involving alleged violation of the traffic laws on Sunday. (b) Any judgment rendered or bail bond taken in pursuance of the provisions of this title shall be of full force and effect as though such judgment were rendered or bail bond accepted on days other than Sundays, if the justice of the peace or mayor so rendering or accepting bail bond on Sunday heretofore would have had jurisdiction on days other than Sundays to render such judgment or accept such bail bond.

Del. Code tit. 21, § 708 Appeal.

(a) Any person convicted under this title, or under any municipal ordinance or other law, for a motor vehicle violation within the State before an alderman or mayor of any incorporated city or town, shall have the right of an appeal, unless otherwise stated in this title, to the Court of Common Pleas, upon giving bond in the sum of $500 to the State with surety satisfactory to the mayor or judge before whom such person was convicted, such appeal to be taken and bond given within 15 days from time of conviction. Such appeal shall operate as a stay or supersedeas of all proceedings in the court below in the same manner that a certiorari from the Superior Court operates. The taking of such appeal shall constitute a waiver by the appellant of the appellant’s right to a writ of certiorari in the Superior Court. (b) Except as provided in subsection (a) of this section, any person convicted under this title shall have the right of an appeal to the Court of Common Pleas only in those cases in which the sentence imposed was imprisonment, or a fine exceeding $100, upon giving bond with surety satisfactory to the alderman, justice of the peace or a judge before whom such person was convicted, such appeal to be taken and bond given with 15 days from the time of conviction. Such appeal shall operate as a stay or supersedeas of all proceedings in the court below in the same manner that a certiorari from the Superior Court operates. The taking of such appeal shall constitute a waiver by the appellant of the appellant’s right to a writ of certiorari in the Superior Court.

Del. Code tit. 21, § 709 Payment of motor vehicle fines.

(a) Applicability. — Any duly constituted peace officer in the State who charges any person with any of the offenses hereinafter designated “motor vehicle offenses subject to voluntary assessment” may indicate on the Uniform Traffic Complaint and Summons that the fine shall be paid by voluntary assessment unless the driver requests a hearing. When a voluntary assessment is permitted and the Uniform Traffic Complaint and Summons is properly executed by the officer, the driver may dispose of the charge without the necessity of personally appearing in the court to which the Uniform Traffic Complaint and Summons is returnable. The court to which the summons is returnable shall be determined by § 703 of this title unless the summons permits a voluntary assessment, in which case it shall be returnable to either the applicable court or a voluntary assessment center established by the Justice of the Peace Court. Notwithstanding any provision of this section and chapter to the contrary, the City of Wilmington may establish the exclusive voluntary assessment center for parking summonses issued for designated offenses within the boundaries of the City of Wilmington, and the Town of Elsmere may establish a voluntary assessment center for any violation of a town ordinance within the boundaries of the Town of Elsmere. (b) Definitions. — (1) “Payment,” as used in this section, shall mean remittance in part or in full of the fine and of the costs as herein provided and of the penalty assessment added to the fine pursuant to the Delaware Victim Compensation Law, Chapter 90 of Title 11, and other penalty assessment as provided by law. (2) “Signature” shall include a written signature or an electronic signature as defined by § 101 of this title. (3) “Voluntary assessment” means the process set forth in this section by which a driver may voluntarily remit payment of a Title 21 violation without having to appear in a court. (c) Places and time of payment. — Payments made pursuant to this section shall be remitted to the court or voluntary assessment center to which the summons is returnable and shall be disbursed in accordance with § 706 of this title. The court or voluntary assessment center must receive the payment within 30 days of the arrest. Payment to the voluntary assessment center shall be paid only by check, money order or credit card. (d) Jurisdiction. — This section shall apply to any licensed resident of the State; to residents of those jurisdictions with which the State has entered a reciprocal agreement pursuant to Chapter 4 of this title; and to those out-of-state residents who, in the discretion of the arresting peace officer, are deemed to be reliable prospects for a voluntary assessment disposition. (e) Offenses designated as “motor vehicle offenses subject to voluntary assessment”; exceptions. — All offenses as now or hereafter set forth in this title and all motor vehicle offenses falling within the scope of § 5211(a) of Title 30 are hereby designated as motor vehicle offenses subject to voluntary assessment except for the following offenses: (1) Violation of § 2118 of this title; (2) Violation of § 2118A of this title; (3) Violation of § 2701 of this title; (4) Violation of § 2751 of this title; (5) Violation of § 2752 of this title; (6) Violation of § 2756 of this title; (7) Violation of § 4103 of this title; (8) Violation of § 4166(d) of this title; (9) Violation of § 4172 of this title; (10) Violation of § 4175 of this title; (11) Violation of § 4175A of this title; (12) Violation of § 4177 of this title; (13) Violation of § 4177L of this title; (14) Violation of § 4201 of this title; (15) Violation of § 4202 of this title; (16) Any violation of Chapter 67 of this title; and (17) Violations of other Title 21 sections which are deemed not appropriate for processing by voluntary assessment. (f) Procedure for voluntary assessment. — (1) At the time of making an arrest for any offense subject to this section, the arresting officer shall determine whether the offense may be handled as a voluntary assessment. If the officer determines that the offense may be so treated, the officer may indicate on the Uniform Traffic Complaint and Summons that payment shall be made by voluntary assessment, unless the driver requests a hearing on the charge or charges. The officer shall inform the arrested person of the court or voluntary assessment center to which payment should be submitted if the person does not request a hearing. No officer shall receive or accept custody of a payment. (2) A driver who has been given a Uniform Traffic Complaint and Summons which specifies that payment be made by voluntary assessment shall pay the fine, together with costs and penalty assessments, within 30 days from the date of arrest during which time payment must be received by the applicable court or voluntary assessment center. (3) In lieu of paying the voluntary assessment, a driver who has been given a voluntary assessment may request a hearing by notifying, in writing, the court or the voluntary assessment center to which payment is to be made within 30 days of the date of arrest. If the driver makes a timely request for a hearing, the charge shall be prosecuted as if the voluntary assessment had not been permitted and the officer shall swear to the ticket prior to trial. (4) If a voluntary assessment is not issued or the driver declines to accept the voluntary assessment, the officer shall follow the procedure for arrest as set forth in Chapter 19 of Title 11. (g) Penalty. — The penalty for offenses for which a voluntary assessment payment is made shall be the minimum fine for each specific offense charged and fines shall be cumulative if more than 1 offense is charged. Provisions of this subsection as to penalties under voluntary assessment shall not apply if the voluntary assessment payment is not received by the voluntary assessment center or the applicable court within 30 days from the date of arrest. (h) Court costs; applicability of Delaware Victim Compensation Law. — In lieu of any other court costs, and provided the offense is not subject to other proceedings under this section, each fine for an offense under this section shall be subject to court costs for processing a voluntary assessment agreement as prescribed by § 9801 of Title 10. Each fine for an offense under this section shall be subject also to the penalty assessment which is or may be provided for in the Delaware Victim Compensation Law, Chapter 90 of Title 11, and any other penalty assessments as provided by law. (i) Effect of payment of fine or signature; repeat offenders. — (1) Payment of the prescribed fine, costs and penalty assessment is an admission of guilt, a waiver of the right to a hearing, and a complete satisfaction of the violation, except as provided in paragraph (i)(2) of this section. Anything in this section notwithstanding, if an agreement for a voluntary assessment is signed by the driver, the signature of the driver shall constitute an acknowledgment of guilt of the stated offense and an agreement to pay the fine, together with costs and penalty assessment within 30 days from the date of arrest. Payment does not waive any administrative penalty which may be lawfully charged to the violator’s driving record by the Department of Safety and Homeland Security. (2) In the event that, following compliance with the payment provisions of this section, it is determined that within the 2-year period immediately preceding the violation, the violator was convicted of or made a payment pursuant to this section in satisfaction of a violation of the same section of this title, personal appearance before the court to which the summons is returnable or the court which is associated with the applicable voluntary assessment center may be required. (j) Failure to pay a voluntary assessment. — (1) a. The voluntary assessment center shall, pursuant to § 2731 of this title, forward to the Division of Motor Vehicles the name and address of any driver who was issued a Uniform Traffic Complaint and Summons for which a voluntary assessment could be made and who has failed to do 1 of the following: 1. Pay the voluntary assessment within 30 days from the date of arrest. 2. Notify the court or voluntary assessment center within 30 days from the date of arrest, in writing, that the driver is requesting a hearing on the charge stated in the Uniform Traffic Complaint and Summons. 3. Appear at trial on the charge stated in the Uniform Traffic Complaint and Summons on the date and time required by the court. 4. Pay the fine on the charge stated in the Uniform Traffic Complaint and Summons in accordance with a deferred payment order. b. When the name and address of any driver has been forwarded to the Division of Motor Vehicles under paragraph (j)(1)a. of this section, the Division of Motor Vehicles shall refuse to renew or issue a duplicate of the driver’s license of a Delaware resident, in accordance with § 2732(g) of this title. c. When the name and address of any driver has been forwarded to the Division of Motor Vehicles under paragraph (j)(1)a. of this section, the Division of Motor Vehicles may suspend the driving privileges in this State of a nonresident of Delaware 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 in accordance with § 2733(m) of this title. (2) If a driver pays a voluntary assessment more than 30 days after the date of arrest, the voluntary assessment center or court shall provide the driver with a receipt which shall serve as proof to the Division of Motor Vehicles that the fine has been paid, upon request. The driver shall provide the voluntary assessment center with a self-addressed, stamped envelope in order to receive a copy of the receipt by mail. Such payment shall be an admission of guilt, a waiver of the right to a hearing, and a complete satisfaction of the violation, except as provided in paragraph (i)(2) of this section. (3) If a driver who has failed to pay a voluntary assessment or request a hearing within 30 days of the date of arrest appears at court, the charge shall be prosecuted as if the voluntary assessment had not been permitted and the officer shall swear to the Uniform Traffic Complaint and Summons prior to trial. The minimum fine provisions of subsection (g) of this section shall not apply. If the driver who appears pleads not guilty, the court shall provide the driver with a copy of the appearance bond to provide as proof of court appearance to the Division of Motor Vehicles. (4) [Repealed.] (k) Nonexclusive procedure. — The procedure prescribed in this section is not exclusive of any other method prescribed by law for the arrest and prosecution of persons violating this title.

Del. Code tit. 21, § 710 State Police size and weight enforcement technicians.

(a) The Secretary of Public Safety may designate civilian members of the Division of State Police as size and weight enforcement technicians. Members of the Division of State Police so designated shall be empowered to perform the duties prescribed in subsection (b) of this section when working in conjunction with, and in the physical presence of, sworn members of the Division. (b) Civilian members of the Division of State Police, where designated pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, shall: (1) Direct, control and regulate vehicle and pedestrian traffic; (2) Inspect drivers’ licenses, vehicle registrations, motor fuel tax cab cards, and other documentations required by law; (3) Measure and weigh vehicles and vehicle loads as set forth in § 4506 of this title; (4) Issue voluntary assessments, summons and make traffic arrests for violations of this title and Chapter 52 of Title 30.

Del. Code tit. 21, § 711 Summons or citations in offenses involving injury.

In any matter in which a violation of this title is alleged to involve physical injury to a person, other than the person charged with the violation, each summons or uniform traffic citation issued by the arresting or investigating officer in the matter shall include thereon a designation that it relates to injury-related offense.

Del. Code tit. 21, § 712 Uniform Traffic Complaint and Summons.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a Uniform Traffic Complaint and Summons may be issued electronically or in written form. The office may sign the Uniform Traffic Complaint and Summons using an electronic and/or a written signature. (b) Whenever a person is detained for commission of an offense under this title or § 5211(a) of Title 30, the arresting officer shall verify the driver’s identification and shall enter identification information from the driver’s license in the Uniform Traffic Complaint and Summons; specify on the Uniform Traffic Complaint and Summons the amount of the fine and whether it may be made by voluntary assessment or whether appearance at the court is required; give a copy to the arrested person; and release such person from custody. (c) The printed copy of an electronically issued Uniform Traffic Complaint and Summons shall contain a conspicuous statement of the total number of charges on the first page and shall list each individual charge. All charges based on the same arrest shall be issued on the same electronically issued Uniform Traffic Complaint and Summons unless evidence necessitates the subsequent issuance of a warrant. (d) The Uniform Traffic Complaint and Summons shall be delivered forthwith from the time of arrest to the voluntary assessment center or to the court to which the summons is returnable. The electronic Uniform Traffic Complaint and Summons shall be available for immediate entry in the DELJIS system or its successor. (e) When a Uniform Traffic Complaint and Summons is issued electronically, any printout or other output readable by sight shall be an original except that once a ticket is sworn to prior to trial, the signed and sworn to ticket shall be the original from that point forward.

Del. Code tit. 21, § 713 Classification of motor vehicle offenses.

Notwithstanding § 4203 of Title 11, any criminal offense in this title, unless otherwise declared with respect to particular offenses, or unless an offense described in § 709(e)(1)-(16) of this title, shall be a violation. The provisions of § 4207 of Title 11 notwithstanding, the court may impose a sentence in accordance with the sentence specified in the law defining the offense or a law in this title specifying a sentence for the offense, and, if no sentence is so specified, the court may impose a fine up to $575. All second offenses, before being punishable as such, shall have been committed within 24 months after the commission of the first offense, unless otherwise specifically provided.

Source: DE Code (Official Site)URL: https://delcode.delaware.gov/title21/c007/index.htmlFetched: 6/28/2026