§ 22-1115.2B. Posting bail after release on personal recognizance for traffic violation – Failure to appear – Person ineligible for release on personal recognizance - Juveniles.

A.  If a person arrested for a traffic violation is released upon personal recognizance as provided for in Section 1 of this act, but subsequently posts bail and thereafter fails to timely appear as provided for by law, the court may issue a warrant for the arrest of the person and the case shall be processed as follows:

1.  If for a state traffic violation, as provided for in Section 1108 of Title 22 of the Oklahoma Statutes;

2.  If for a violation filed in a municipal court not of record, as provided for in Section 27-118 of Title 11 of the Oklahoma Statutes; or

3.  If for a violation filed in a municipal court of record, as provided for in Section 28-127 of Title 11 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

B.  If the defendant is not eligible for release upon personal recognizance as provided for in Section 1 of this act, or if eligible but refuses to acknowledge a written promise to appear, as evidenced by the electronic signature of the person, the officer shall deliver the person to an appropriate magistrate for arraignment and the magistrate shall proceed as otherwise provided for by law.  If no magistrate is available, the defendant shall be:

1.  Placed in the custody of the appropriate municipal or county jailor or custodian, to be held until a magistrate is available or bail is posted as provided for in Section 1115.4 of Title 22 of the Oklahoma Statutes;

2.  Released upon personal recognizance by the arresting officer as provided in subsection A of Section 1 of this act; or

3.  Processed as otherwise provided for by law or ordinance.

C.  1.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a juvenile may be held in custody pursuant to the provisions of this section, but shall be incarcerated separately from any adult offender.  Provided however, the arresting officer shall not be required to:

a.place a juvenile into custody as provided for in this section,

b.place any other traffic offender into custody:

(1)who is injured, disabled, or otherwise incapacitated,

(2)if custodial arrest may require impoundment of a vehicle containing livestock, perishable cargo, or items requiring special maintenance or care, or

(3)if extraordinary circumstances exist, which, in the judgment of the arresting officer, custodial arrest should not be made.

In such cases, the arresting officer may record the date and time on the citation by which, or on which, the person shall appear or contact the court, as applicable to the court, and release the person.  If the person fails to appear without good cause shown, the court may issue a warrant for the arrest of the person.

2.  The provisions of this subsection shall not be construed to:

a.create any duty on the part of the officer to release a person from custody,

b.create any duty on the part of the officer to make any inquiry or investigation relating to any condition which may justify release under this subsection, or

c.create any liability upon any officer, or the state or any political subdivision thereof, arising from the decision to release or not to release such person from custody pursuant to the provisions of this subsection.

Added by Laws 2009, c. 84, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2009.