(A) The defendant must be present in person at the trial of his or her case in the Municipal Court.
(B) (1) If, without sufficient excuse, a defendant fails to appear according to the terms or conditions of his or her bond, either for hearing, arraignment, trial or judgment, or upon any other occasion when his or her presence in Court or before the magistrate may be lawfully required, the municipal Judge may direct that fact to be entered upon the Court minutes, thereby declaring the bond to be forfeited.
(2) Without advancing Court costs, the Judge shall then cause the forfeiture to be certified to the county’s District Court, wherein the situs of government is situated, where it shall be entered upon the judgment docket and shall have the full force and effect of a District Court judgment. At the time as the forfeiture is entered upon the District Court judgment docket, the District Court Clerk shall proceed in accordance with the applicable provisions of state statutes.
(C) If a person fails to appear or answer a citation, summons or fails to appear at any other time as directed by the court or as required by law, the Court may issue a warrant for the arrest of such person. In addition, the failure of any person to appear and respond shall constitute an offense, separate and distinct from the original cited offense, and shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine not to exceed $200, plus court costs.
(2002 Code, § 39.19) (Ord. 460, passed 2-12-2001)