Road Traffic Fixed Penalties (Enforcement of Fines) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997

Procedure where warrant issued

5.—(1) Where a defendant has been taken into custody in pursuance of a warrant issued under Regulation 4(2)(b) or paragraph (5) of this Regulation for the purpose of causing him to be brought before a court he shall, if it will not be practicable to bring him before a court within twenty-four hours after he was so taken into custody, be brought, as soon as practicable, before a justice of the peace.

(2) If he thinks fit the justice of the peace may discharge the defendant upon the defendant entering into a recognizance for a reasonable amount to appear before a court at the time and place named in the recognizance.

(3) Where a defendant is not so discharged the justice of the peace shall commit him to prison and direct that he shall be brought before a court as soon as practicable thereafter and in any case not later than seven days from the date of such commitment.

(4) A court before which a defendant is brought under Regulation 4(2)(b) or paragraph (5) of this Regulation may hear the complaint in accordance with Regulation 7 or may, if it thinks fit, discharge such person upon his entry into a recognizance for a reasonable amount to appear before a court at the time and place named in the recognizance.

(5) If the defendant fails to appear at the time and place mentioned in a recognizance entered into under paragraph (2) or (4) the court may by warrant cause him to be brought before a court acting for the same petty sessions district in which the sum payable in default is registered or for any other petty sessions district in the same county court division.