Pursuant to Sup. R. 18 and Crim. R. 4.1, there is established a Violation Bureau for Minor Misdemeanors. Pursuant to R.C. 2901.02, a minor misdemeanor is any offense specifically classified as such or any unclassified offense for which the only penalty is a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars. All minor misdemeanors are to be processed by the violation bureau.
The citation issued, by a law enforcement officer, upon the violation of a minor misdemeanor “* * * shall inform the defendant that, in lieu of appearing at the time and place stated, he may, within that stated time, appear personally at the office of the clerk of court and upon signing a plea of guilty and a waiver of trial pay a stated fine and stated costs, if any.”
The clerk of court shall maintain a fine schedule listing the fines and court costs for each minor misdemeanor. The fine schedule is available at each area court.
Pursuant to Crim. R. 4.1(F), when a defendant fails to appeal, the court may issue a supplemental citation, or a summons or warrant under Crim. R. 4. Supplemental citations shall be signed by the clerk and served in the same manner as a summons.