1. Whenever a police officer has reasonable cause to believe that a person has violated any provision of the traffic code or of Chapter 321 of the Code of Iowa, punishable as a simple, serious, or aggravated misdemeanor, such officer may, without arresting the person, either:
A. Prepare a written citation to appear in court containing the name and address of such person, the nature of the offense, the operator or chauffeur license number, if any, the registration number, if any, of their vehicle, the time when and place where such person shall appear in court and the penalty for nonappearance; or
B. If the violation charged is of a provision of Chapter 321 of the Code of Iowa, prepare a memorandum of the alleged traffic violation containing the name and address of such person, the registration number, if any, of their vehicle, the offense alleged to have been committed, and such other information as may be prescribed by the Commissioner of Public Safety with the concurrence of the Director of Transportation.
2. If the officer prepares either a citation or a memorandum as provided in this section, the alleged offender shall be requested to sign it. If the person signs, the person may be released without arrest. In case a citation is issued, the signing shall constitute a written promise to appear as stated in the citation. A copy of the citation shall be presented to the person named therein. The police officer issuing the citation shall cause to be filed a complaint in the court in which the cited person is required to appear, as soon as practicable, charging the crime stated in the citation. If a memorandum is prepared, the original shall be retained by the officer, and a copy shall be sent to the department, and a copy shall be presented to the person named therein.
3. For preparing the summons or memorandum for a violation of Chapter 321 of the Code of Iowa, there shall be charged to the person named in the summons or memorandum, upon conviction, a fee of $2.00. The fee shall be assessed as part of the court costs.
4. The number of copies and the form of the citations and memorandums for violation of Chapter 321 of the Code of Iowa, shall be as prescribed by the Commissioner of Public Safety with the concurrence of the Director of Transportation.
5. This section does not apply to a traffic offense which must be charged upon a uniform citation and complaint as provided in Section 805.6 of the Code of Iowa and Chapter 805 of the Code of Iowa shall control such procedures. This section does not apply to violations of parking regulations charged upon a simple notice of fine as provided in this Code and in Sections 805.8 and 321.236 of the Code of Iowa, and this Code shall control such procedures.
6. Any person receiving a simple notice of fine herein provided for in Subsection 6-1-8(4) of this chapter or a uniform citation and complaint, or knowing that one such notice or citation and complaint has been attached to any vehicle owned or controlled by said person, shall appear before the magistrate court at the place and not later than the time and date specified in this notice.