Subdivision 1. Appearance by counsel. A person may appear in court either in person or through an appearance by counsel. A person is not required to sign a written promise to appear.

Subd. 2. Notice to commissioner. When a person fails to appear in court in response to a notice to appear prepared under section 169.91, subdivision 3, or fails to comply with other orders of the court regarding the appearance or proceedings, the court shall notify the commissioner of public safety of the nonappearance or noncompliance upon a form provided by the commissioner.

Subd. 3. Nonappearance by nonresident. Upon receipt of notice from the court that a nonresident did not appear in court, the commissioner of public safety shall forward a copy of the report to the driver licensing authority of the state, district, territory, possession, or province of residence of the person.

Subd. 4. Suspension of driver's license. (a) Upon receiving a report from the court, or from the driver licensing authority of a state, district, territory, or possession of the United States or a province of a foreign country which has an agreement in effect with this state pursuant to section 169.91, that a resident of this state or a person licensed as a driver in this state did not appear in court in compliance with the terms of a citation, the commissioner of public safety shall notify the driver that the driver's license will be suspended unless the commissioner receives notice within 30 days that the driver has appeared in the appropriate court or, if the offense is a petty misdemeanor for which a guilty plea was entered under section 609.491, that the person has paid any fine imposed by the court. If the commissioner does not receive notice of the appearance in the appropriate court or payment of the fine within 30 days of the date of the commissioner's notice to the driver, the commissioner may suspend the driver's license, subject to the notice requirements of section 171.18, subdivision 2.

(b) The order of suspension shall indicate the reason for the order and shall notify the driver that the driver's license shall remain suspended until the driver has furnished evidence, satisfactory to the commissioner, of compliance with any order entered by the court.

(c) Suspension shall be ordered under this subdivision only when the report clearly identifies the person arrested; describes the violation, specifying the section of the traffic law, ordinance or rule violated; indicates the location and date of the offense; and describes the vehicle involved and its registration number.

History: (2720-286) 1937 c 464 s 136; 1978 c 783 s 4; 1985 c 248 s 70; 1986 c 444; 1988 c 681 s 11; 1989 c 228 s 1; 1989 c 333 s 6; 1996 c 346 s 2