(a) For purposes of this chapter, the term, “traffic offense”, means any conduct or violation of the provisions of titles 20 and 23 of the Virgin Islands Code and related regulations, relating to motor vehicles or pedestrians, or a moving or non-moving violation, which is punishable by a fine or a period of imprisonment of not more than six months.
(b) The Magistrate Division of the Superior Court has exclusive jurisdiction over all traffic offenses, except felony traffic offenses. A magistrate judge may:
(1) impose any penalty prescribed by law for each offense other than a penalty providing for imprisonment exceeding six months;
(2) impose points against a license as may be provided by law;
(3) impose as a sanction for a traffic offense including, required attendance at a traffic school, as may be provided by law or order of the court; and
(4) suspend or revoke a driver's license as may be prescribed by law.
(c) The notice of traffic offense is the summons and complaint in the form described in Rule 151 of the Rules of the Superior Court, known as the “Uniform Traffic Ticket”, which must be filed directly by the issuing officer or prosecuting attorney in the Magistrate Division of the Superior Court.
(d) A person receiving a Uniform Traffic Ticket shall appear in court no later than the day specified on the ticket to admit or deny commission of the offense, and if necessary, to docket the case.
(e) The issuing officer or person shall present the case to the magistrate judge at the time and place docketed for the traffic offense hearing. The magistrate judge shall place a lien on the vehicle of the offender issued a notice of traffic offense until further appearance or proceedings who, without good cause shown, fails to appear as directed.