(A) Upon the filing of a complaint charging a violation of an ordinance, the Judge, unless he or she determines to issue a warrant of arrest, or unless the defendant previously has been issued a citation or has been arrested and has given bond for appearance, shall issue a summons naming the person charged, specifying his or her address or place of residence, if known, stating the offense with which he or she is charged, giving him or her notice to answer the charge in the Court on a day certain, containing a provision for the official return of the summons and including such other pertinent information as may be necessary.
(B) The summons shall be served by delivering a copy to the defendant personally or by certified mail. If he or she fails to appear and to answer the summons within the prescribed period, then a warrant shall be issued for his or her arrest as provided by this chapter.
(C) Any person who has been duly served with a summons or traffic citation and who has signed a written promise to appear in court as directed in the summons or citation, or as subsequently directed by the Court, and who fails to appear pursuant to his or her written promise or as directed by the Court shall be deemed guilty of an offense, which shall be punishable as provided in § 10.99(A) of this code.
(Prior Code, § 6-115)