SOP Number: 1.20 BLOOMINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE ISSUANCE OF UNIFORM TRAFFIC TICKET & ACCEPTANCE OF BOND Reviewed by: Ofc. Michael Luedtke Effective Date: July 7, 1995 Authorized by: Asst. Chief Gregory Scott Revision Date: April 10, 2017 PURPOSE The purpose of this SOP is to ensure that all Uniform Traffic Tickets are correctly completed upon issuance. ISSUANCE PROCEDURE The following is a step by step guide to completing all sections of the Uniform Traffic Ticket. PRESS HARD. YOU ARE WRITING THROUGH 4 COPIES. Uniform Traffic Tickets must be completed in black ink. 1. The COMPLAINT number in the upper right hand corner is merely a ticket number that will not be used. 2. Leave the other lines (DCN and CASE NO. ) blank as they do not apply to this Department's current procedure. 3. This box should already be checked: PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 4. Fill in the violator's full name from the driver's license. If their name has changed, fill in current name. 5. Ask the violator if the listed address is current and fill it in. 6. Fill in the violator's current city, state and zip code of residence. 7. Fill in the violator s entire driver s license number and the state of issuance. (Note on the ticket if DL is an International driver's license) 8. Fill in the eye color, height, and weight descriptors of the violator. 9. Check either "Female" or "Male". 10. Fill in the date of birth of the violator. 11. Fill in the type, class, restrictions and expiration of the license. This format is primarily for Illinois Driver s License information. All out of state license information should be filled in as well. 12. Fill in the date and time of the offense. Circle "AM" or "PM" box even though you may use military time. (UTT's are entered into EJS using military time) 13. Fill in the registration number, state and year of the offender's vehicle. If it is a motorcycle, (MC) is to be written behind the registration number. If there is no registration number write in the complete VIN.
Page 2 14. Insert the make and color of the vehicle. 15. Check the type of vehicle you are citing. If the citation is issued to a pedestrian, check "Pedestrian" box, and if the vehicle does not fit any of the listed categories, check the "Other" box and write in the type. 16. Fill out the location of the offense. It is recommended to use cross streets instead of block numbers and indicate the direction the vehicle was traveling. Example, Main St. (northbound) to Buchanan. 17. If the violation is for one of the violations listed, check the appropriate box. Each violation requires a separate ticket. A. For the offense of No Valid D.L. write one of the following in the Notations Section: 1. Expired less than one year. 2. Expired more than one year. 3. Never issued. B. For the offense of Driving while License Suspended/Revoked circle the appropriate license status. C. For the offense of Uninsured Motor Vehicle, write the last four of the VIN. 18. If the violation pertains to the I.L.C.S. (Illinois Compiled Statutes), insert the correct chapter, section and paragraph of the offense. 19. If the violation is not one of the listed violations, insert the correct chapter, section and paragraph of the offense. Write in the entire offense. 20. Do not use the local ordinance line. Issue an Ordinance Violation citation instead. 21. This section deals with the "Incident" at the time of the offense. If the offense concerns an accident, check the correct box for the "Accident Type": "PD" is for property damage; "PI" is for personal injury; and "Fatal" is for an accident with a fatality. 22. On every ticket, check the appropriate boxes for "Road Conditions," "Visibility," and "Method." 23. When required, insert the Department case report number. 24. Check the appropriate box concerning how the arrest should be catalogued. 25. If the violation is a petty offense as noted in 625 ILCS 5/6-308 (a) the driver is not required to post bond. The driver may be released after checking Notice To Comply and the driver signs the citation. 26. If the violator has a valid out of state driver's license and that state is a member of the Nonresident Violator Compact, the violator may sign the UTT and be released on a "Promise to Comply" or an I Bond. If the violator drivers license is not from a state which is a member of the compact (Alaska, California, Michigan, Montana, Oregon, and Wisconsin) the violator may sign the UTT and be released on a "Promise to Comply." Have the violator sign the citation. 27. If cash is deposited, check box 1 and fill in the amount. This also applies to traveler's checks: have them made payable to the McLean County Circuit Clerk. Then have the violator sign on the signature line thus acknowledging the posting of cash. Do not take any Driver's License other than one from Illinois for bond. 28. If the violator wishes to post a bond card, check to see if the bond card is valid, has the violator's name or names of persons authorized to use the card and is listed as an acceptable bond card by the Circuit Clerk's Office. If the Bond Card meets the above criteria, check box 3 and write in the number of the bond card.
Page 3 29. Place the name of the party issuing the bond card, example, Chicago Motor Club. 30. If this citation is in addition to one already issued, check box 4 and write in the ticket number with the highest bond. 31. The violator should sign the ticket here. 32. Insert your assigned court date. These dates and times are arranged by the State's Attorney's Office for all court appearances that are "NO Court Appearance Required," and should be "not less than 14 days but within 49 days after the date of arrest, whenever practical." Let the violator know that this is not the date to appear in court if they wish to contest the ticket, but is the date by which they must let the Circuit Clerk's Office know if they wish to appear in court. If the offense requires that the violator must appear, the appearance date should be any Tuesday which complies with the 14 to 49 day rule, and the time will be 9:00 AM. For Spanish speakers the court time will be 10:00 AM 33. Check this box if the offense is a Court Appearance Required violation. 34. Check this box if the offense is a NO Court Appearance Required violation. 35. Date, sign AND print your name. Write your ID# on the provided line. If an in car printer is used, you must still sign the citation in such a way that the printed name is legible. All violations are marked "Court Appearance Required" in the Illinois Vehicle Code if the violation mandates the violator appear in court. UNIFORM TRAFFIC TICKET DISTRIBUTION 1. Upon completing the ticket, staple the bond to the upper right corner of the first copy (i.e. Complaint copy) and report the bond to police dispatch if it is a cash bond, giving your location, ticket number and amount of bond. If the bond is a driver's license or bond card, it should be stapled so that it can be read. In the case of a digital driver s license do not staple. Instead use the plastic bags provided. 2. For all "NO Court Appearance Required" violations, the violator should be given the 3rd and 4th copies of the ticket with an explanation on how to proceed further. 3. For all Court Appearance Required tickets that are jailable offenses, the violator should be given only the 3rd copy; destroy the 4th. On all Court Appearance Required tickets that are non-jailable offenses, issue both the 3rd and 4th copies to the violator. This will allow them to retain the 4th copy for any court communications that may be available to them. Let them know that they are expected in court on the court date unless they make other arrangements with the Circuit Clerk's Office. 4. After finishing with the violator, a brief account of the violation may be written on the back of the 2nd copy along with a brief sketch of the violation. 5. All tickets should be broken down before the end of shift as follows: A. The 2nd (i. e., Police Record) copy of the ticket should be removed from each ticket and placed in the top hanging mailbox on the traffic support staff desk. B. Tickets with a cash bond should be placed in an envelope marked "Traffic" and placed in the safe. C. Tickets with I-Bonds should be placed in an envelope marked "Traffic" along with the court copies of the I-Bond, and placed in the safe. D. Tickets with licenses or bond cards can be placed into the safe without an envelope.
Page 4 BOND E. When there is more than one ticket issued to a violator, make sure that all tickets are either stapled together or placed in an envelope, if applicable. Any driver who has been issued a UTT must post some type of bond, either in the form of cash, driver's license, an approved bond card or a combination of a valid driver's license and cash, or sign the short form I Bond. Not all UTT's require the same type of bond. The following procedure is to be used when the violator is in possession of a valid Illinois driver's license. 1. MINOR TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS THAT DON'T REQUIRE A "COURT APPEARANCE REQUIRED" OR CASH BOND HIGHER THAN $1,500.00: In this event, the violator would be required to sign Promise to Comply and no DL is taken. Exceptions to this rule would be a UTT issued for speeding greater than 20 m.p.h. and speeding greater than 30 m.p.h. over the posted limit. In these cases, the bond would be $140.00 cash 20 m.p.h. but not more than 30 m.p.h over the posted limit. And $160.00 for 30 m.p.h. or more over the posted limit. If this is the case, then the officer will note this on the face of the UTT in the bond area. 2. UTT'S THAT REQUIRE POSTING MORE THAN $120.00 CASH, AND/OR A VALID ILLINOIS DRIVER'S LICENSE. (ALL "COURT APPEARANCE REQUIREDS" REQUIRE AT LEAST A VALID ILLINOIS DRIVER'S LICENSE AS BOND. "COURT APPEARANCE REQUIREDS" ARE DESIGNATED IN THE IVC): the violator must post at least the minimum amount of cash bond, in the form of cash, traveler's check, money order or driver's license. In this case, the area marked "CASH $" on the UTT must be marked with the amount of cash received as bond. Also, the officer must indicate that the violator has posted his driver's license, if applicable, by marking number 2 in the bond area of the UTT. The Officer accepting the bond will sign the UTT in the area marked "RECEIVED BY." If the cash bond is $ 160.00 or more, then the bonding procedure will require the use of an APPEARANCE BOND form. 3. UTT'S ISSUED ALONG WITH CRIMINAL COMPLAINTS: if the subject has been issued UTT's, as outlined in #1 above, and is also being charged with a criminal offense, the two can be treated separately. However, if the UTT requires a cash bond, then the highest cash bond for either the UTT or the criminal complaint will be accepted. This information will be recorded on the appearance bond form, and the charges will be combined with only one bond being posted. (An exception to this would be if a subject was also being held on a warrant. In this case, the cash bond for the warrant will be collected in addition to any bond required for the new charges). If the violator is being released to the custody of McLean County Correctional Facility (MCCF), check box 5, no bond confined at. On the line provided write MCCF. All copies of the citation, except Police Record shall be left with the jail staff. The court date, in this case, will follow the guidelines required for setting court dates for misdemeanors, and that court date will be used on both the criminal charges and the UTT's. 4. NOTICE TO VIOLATOR OF APPEARANCES AND GUILTY PLEA: after accepting the type of bond required for a UTT, the officer will inform the violator of the terms of
Page 5 the citation and the procedure for handling their requirements on the UTT. An explanation of the "COURT APPEARANCE REQUIRED" needs to be given, if applicable, as well as the location of the court. If the UTT allows a "NO COURT APPEARANCE REQUIRED," instructions will be given as to the location of the McLean County Law and Justice Center, as well as the defendant's option to enter a "not guilty" or "guilty" plea. The appropriate waiting period and the mail-in procedure need to be explained to the violator to eliminate any undue hardships. If the UTT is for a "NO COURT APPEARANCE REQUIRED" violation, then the last two copies of the UTT will be given to the violator. However, if the violation requires a "COURT APPEARANCE REQUIRED," then only the violator's copy will be given to the violator, and the court communication's copy will be retained with the other copies of the ticket. Under no circumstances should an officer instruct a violator on how to have the citation dismissed in court, or discuss the possible penalties which may or may not be imposed by the courts. If the violator is not in custody at the time the ticket is written, it shall be placed in an envelope and marked, "Notice to Appear" in large letters on the outside of that envelope and across the "ex parte judgment." The whole and complete ticket shall be sent to the County Clerk's Office (exception, remove the police copy (green) and process in the usual manner). 5. ACCEPTING CASH BOND AT THE SCENE: Cash bonds of up to $160.00 may be accepted by the officer at the scene of the traffic stop, per Supreme Court rule 526, 527 or 528, if the officer follows these procedures: A. After completing the citation, the officer must radio the telecommunicator and state that a cash bond has been taken in the amount of $120.00 or $140.00 or $160.00, and report the number of the UTT. B. The amount of cash which has been accepted must be listed in the proper place on the face of the UTT; then, have the violator initial beside this amount. C. An exception to this rule would be for "No Valid Insurance" which the bond is $2,000.00 (10% equaling $200.00), driver's license, or I-Bond. 6. OUT OF STATE VIOLATORS: If a nonresident is issued a UTT, the officer will check the Nonresident Violator Compact Member Jurisdictions list. (Alaska, California, Michigan, Montana, Oregon and Wisconsin) If the violator is driving with a license from one of these states, a signature may be obtained for bond, as long as cash is not required. If no cash is required, check box 7 Promise to Comply and have the violator sign the citation. If the violator's license is not from a compact state, check box 8 Individual Bond and write in the amount of the bond followed by no cash taken. The violator will sign the face of the UTT in the area marked "SIGNATURE" for bond. Note: If you choose to I-Bond a violator on a UTT and the violator refuses to sign the UTT, or is otherwise unable to sign the UTT, then an alternative bond must be selected. You can choose Notice to Appear and the violator will receive notice from the Circuit Clerk's Office If the bond requires cash greater than $160.00 or if the driver's license is not on the above mentioned list, then Section #2 of this bond procedure must be followed.
Page 6 7. VIOLATORS HAVING NO PROVISION FOR BOND: If no bond can be obtained from the violator, the arresting officer has the option of issuing an I-Bond. This bond must be done in accordance with the SOP on "Filling Out The Appearance Bond Form and Its Distribution," section 4(b). This provision is not intended to be used simply because the violator wants to retain his driver's license or cash. NOTE: After bond has been posted, the officer should remove the "POLICE OFFICER" copy of the UTT and place it in the appropriate mail box which has been provided. All UTT's which require a bond other than a driver's license will be placed in an envelope and deposited in the safe provided for bond. Indicate on the outside of the envelope if it contains UTT's and cash, or a combination of UTT's and criminal complaints and bond. Any UTT which only requires a driver's license for bond may be dropped into the safe without an envelope, as long as all copies of the UTT are attached to each other and the driver's license is stapled to them. In order for the courts and Secretary of State to follow through with their procedures with any UTT, it is important that the arresting officer obtain the most recent address of the violator, prior to accepting bond. All UTT's should be placed in the safe during the tour of duty on which they were issued. Only in extreme circumstances should an officer allow a violator to exchange types of bond after they have left the scene. However, if the arresting officer elects to allow the violator to exchange bond (usually by paying the cash amount in exchange for their driver's license), arrangements will be made for the violator to contact the officer to handle this transaction. In this case, the UTT will be retained by the arresting officer until completion of the officer's next day's work shift. If the officer is off the following day on any allowed leave, training or any other benefit time, the UTT will be turned in by the end of the shift in which the UTT was issued. Note: In compliance with the Real ID Act, the Illinois Secretary of State is issuing temporary paper driver s licenses. Please know that pursuant to the Illinois Secretary of State, a temporary paper driver s license issued in accordance with the Real ID Act may NOT be accepted as bond as they are only valid for 45 days. This is also addressed under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 501(b). Additionally, pursuant to Illinois Secretary of State and Illinois Supreme Court Rule 501(b), a temporary VISITOR'S driver s license may be used as bond.