Pennsylvania Code
Title 234 - RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
Chapter 10 - RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE FOR THE PHILADELPHIA MUNICIPAL COURT AND THE PHILADELPHIA MUNICIPAL COURT TRAFFIC DIVISION
Part B - Philadelphia Municipal Court Traffic Division Procedures
Rule 1033 - Procedures When Defendant Arrested with Warrant

Universal Citation: 234 PA Code § 1033

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 44, November 2, 2024

(A) When a defendant is arrested pursuant to a warrant issued as provided in Rule 430, the police officer without unnecessary delay shall take the defendant before the proper issuing authority and shall proceed as provided in this rule and by local rule.

(B) When the defendant appears in person or appears by means of two-way simultaneous audio-video equipment, the judge or arraignment court magistrate shall:

(1) inform the defendant concerning the specific citations to which the defendant has not entered a plea as required by Rules 407 and 412;

(2) inform the defendant concerning the specific citations that have been adjudicated that have outstanding fines or costs for which the defendant is in default of a payment order or a payment plan; and

(3) advise the defendant of the right to retain counsel, and if, in the event of a conviction, there is a reasonable likelihood of a sentence of imprisonment and the defendant does not have the financial ability to retain counsel, advise the defendant that counsel will be appointed by Traffic Division as provided in Rule 1035.

(C) When the defendant appears before an arraignment court magistrate, the arraignment court magistrate shall schedule the next court proceeding before the Traffic Division and give the defendant a hearing notice or subpoena, set collateral as provided in Rule 1034 and local rule, and release the defendant, or if the defendant is unable to post the collateral, commit the defendant.

(D) When the defendant appears before a Traffic Division judge or hearing officer,

(1) if the matter is not ready to proceed, the Traffic Division judge or hearing officer shall schedule the next court proceeding and give the defendant a scheduling order, and shall release the defendant on recognizance unless the issuing authority has reasonable grounds to believe that the defendant will not appear, in which case, the issuing authority may fix the amount of collateral, as provided in Rules 452, 1034, and local rule, to be deposited to ensure the defendant's appearance on the new date and hour fixed for trial, and if the defendant does not post the collateral, commit the defendant.

(a) In determining whether it is necessary to set collateral and what amount of collateral should be set, the Traffic Division judge or hearing officer shall consider the factors listed in Rule 523. The amount of collateral shall not exceed the full amount of the fine and costs.

(b) If collateral has been set, the Traffic Division judge or hearing officer shall state in writing the reason(s) why any collateral other than release on recognizance has been set and the facts that support a determination that the defendant has the ability to pay monetary collateral.

(c) If collateral is set and the defendant does not post collateral, the defendant shall not be detained without a trial longer than 72 hours or the close of the next business day if the 72 hours expires on a non-business day.

(2) If the matter is ready to proceed,

(a) when the defendant is arrested pursuant to a warrant issued as provided in Rule 430(A) or (B)(1)(a) or (B)(2), the defendant shall enter a plea. If the defendant pleads guilty, the Traffic Division judge or hearing officer shall impose sentence. If the defendant pleads not guilty, the summary trial shall be conducted.

(b) When the defendant is arrested following a trial in absentia pursuant to a warrant issued as provided in Rule 430(B)(3)(c) and (B)(4),

(i) The Traffic Division judge or hearing officer shall conduct an immediate hearing to determine defendant's financial ability to pay the full amount due.

(ii) If the Traffic Division judge or hearing officer determines the defendant is financially unable to pay the full amount due, the judge may order an installment payment plan as provided in Rule 456(C)(2).

(iii) If the judge or hearing officer determines the defendant is financially able to pay the full amount due, and that there is a likelihood that imprisonment will be imposed at the conclusion of the hearing, the judge or hearing officer shall advise the defendant of the right to retain counsel, and, if the defendant does not have the financial ability to retain counsel, advise the defendant that counsel will be appointed by Traffic Division as provided in Rule 1035. A hearing may be held if retained or appointed counsel is available; otherwise, the hearing shall be rescheduled for a date certain, and the defendant shall be released on collateral as provided in Rule 1034.

(iv) At the conclusion of the hearing, the Traffic Division judge or hearing officer shall proceed as provided in Rule 456(C)(3).

(c) When the defendant is arrested after defaulting on the payment of fine or costs or restitution pursuant to a warrant issued as provided in Rule 430(B)(3)(b) and (B)(4),

(i) The Traffic Division judge or hearing officer shall conduct an immediate hearing to determine whether the defendant is financially able to pay the outstanding fine and costs as previously ordered.

(ii) If the judge or hearing officer determines the defendant is financially unable to pay as previously ordered, the judge may issue a revised payment order or payment plan.

(iii) If the judge or hearing officer determines the defendant is financially able to pay as previously ordered, and that there is a likelihood that imprisonment will be imposed at the conclusion of the hearing, the judge shall advise the defendant of the right to retain counsel, and if, the defendant does not have the financial ability to retain counsel, advise the defendant that counsel will be appointed by Traffic Division as provided in Rule 1035. A hearing may be held if retained or appointed counsel is available; otherwise, the hearing shall be rescheduled for a date certain, and the defendant shall be released on collateral as provided in Rule 1034.

(iv) At the conclusion of the hearing, the Traffic Division judge or hearing officer shall proceed as provided in Rule 456(C)(3).

(d) When the defendant is arrested on multiple warrants in cases involving both unadjudicated citations and adjudicated citations with outstanding balances, the matter shall proceed as provided in paragraph (D)(2)(a) (summary trial), or paragraphs (D)(2)(b) or (D)(2)(c) (default hearings). These cases may be joined and the proceeding scheduled before the same Traffic Division judge or hearing officer.

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