§ 11:303. Disposition and records of traffic citations, warrants and complaints.

(a)

Every police officer upon issuing a traffic citation to an alleged violator of any provision of the motor vehicle laws of this state or any traffic ordinance of this city shall deposit the original and two (2) duplicate copies of the citation with his immediate superior officer, who shall cause the original to be delivered to the court and the duplicate copies to the central records section of the police department.

(b)

All traffic violations shall be processed substantially in accordance with the suggestions contained in the report consisting of five (5) pages entitled "Processing of Quadruplicate Traffic Citations" made by Hudson Hamm, which report is attached hereto and made a part hereof. The procedure established in this report may be changed from time to time, only upon the written recommendations of the chief of police and the judge of the court.

(c)

Upon the filing of such original citation in the court of this city as aforesaid, the citation may be disposed of only by trial in the court or by other official action by a judge of the court, including forfeiture of bail or by payment of a fine.

(d)

The chief of police shall require the return to him of each traffic citation and all copies thereof, except that copy required to be retained in the book as provided herein, which has been spoiled or upon which any entry has been made and has not been issued to an alleged violator.

(e)

The chief of police shall also maintain or cause to be maintained in connection with every traffic citation issued by a member of the police department a record of the disposition of the charge by the court.

(f)

The chief of police shall also maintain or cause to be maintained a record of all warrants issued by the traffic court or by any other court on the traffic violation charges and which are delivered to the police department for service, and of the final disposition of all such warrants.

(g)

It shall be unlawful and official misconduct for any member of the police department or other officer or public employee to dispose of, alter, or deface a traffic citation or any copy thereof, or the record of the issuance or disposition of any traffic citation, complaint, or warrant in a manner other than as required in this section.

(City Code 1951, Title 11, § 303)