(a) A person who is charged with committing a fire prevention offense may waive appearance and trial and plead guilty or nolo contendere or not guilty by a signed statement. The person shall submit a fine in an amount as established by the court with the signed statement. The court shall accept the signed statement accompanied by the fine assessed as a plea of guilty or nolo contendere as indicated on the signed statement and shall proceed accordingly.

(b) Fines shall be paid to, receipted by, and accounted for by the clerk as required by court rules. Any fire warden or issuing officer who issues a complaint shall advise the defendant of the fines.

(c) If a defendant fails to answer or appear as directed on the fire prevention ticket or by the Criminal Division of the Superior Court judge, or fails to pay the fine imposed after judgment, the court may issue an appropriate order. (Added 1987, No. 107, § 3; amended 2009, No. 154 (Adj. Sess.), § 238.)