Misdemeanor “Notice to Appear” in Pinellas County
If you received a notice to appear in court in Pinellas County, FL, and wish to fight the accusation, you have come to the right place. The attorneys at Sammis Law Firm fight misdemeanor accusations listed in the “notice to appear.”
To help you understand your options, this article explains Administrative Order No. 2019-006 PI-CIR, in the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Pinellas County, on the rules for a notice to appear or local ordinance violations in Pinellas County.
The administrative order also creates the standard forms required for the complaint/arrest affidavit and notice to appear. Given the problems encountered as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Administrative Order No. 2020-019 PI-CTY, entered on August 7, 2020, modified those rules.
Attorneys for a Notice to Appear in Pinellas County, FL
If you were issued a notice to appear on misdemeanor charges or a city or county ordinance violation, contact an experienced criminal defense attorney at Sammis Law Firm.
We can help you fight a notice to appear issued by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office or a local police department. We also help if you were issued a criminal resource citation by an officer with the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
We also represent clients who receive a notice to appear in court after an alleged violation of probation in the Sixth Judicial Center. At Sammis Law Firm, the criminal defense attorneys for Pinellas County, FL represent clients throughout Clearwater and St. Petersburg, FL.
Our office is at 14010 Roosevelt Blvd Suite 701, Clearwater, FL 33762-3820.
Call 727-210-7004.
Complaint/Arrest Forms in Pinellas County
The Adult and Juvenile Complaint/Arrest Affidavit forms were approved by the Court as the official complaint/arrest instruments within the jurisdiction of Pinellas County where an arrest is involved.
Now all agencies in Pinellas County are authorized to issue complaint/arrest affidavits in County or Circuit Court using the Adult and Juvenile Complaint/Arrest Affidavit forms. A separate affidavit must be used for each charge for adult and juvenile arrests. Multiple charges may not be included in the same affidavit.
Procedures for Issuing the Citation in Pinellas County, FL
Law enforcement officers in Pinellas County, FL, are trained to obtain proper identification from the defendant. Both the defendant and officer must sign the citation. If the defendant has no photo identification, the officer is trained to obtain the right thumbprint of the defendant on the rear side of the complaint copy of the citation.
The officer is trained to give the defendant a copy of the citation and complete the schedule of witnesses and evidence on the reverse side of the complaint copy.
Misdemeanor cases also require the officer to list the victim’s information on the reverse side of the State Attorney’s copy of the form. The officer will return the complaint and State Attorney copy of the form to the Clerk of the Court.
All criminal violations must include a worksheet detailing investigative costs. For misdemeanor offenses, the officer will attach a copy of the offense report.
Form for the Notice to Appear in Pinellas County, FL
The Notice to Appear/Ordinance Violation Form was approved by the Court in the Sixth Judicial Circuit as the official complaint instrument for prosecuting county and municipal ordinance violations within Pinellas County’s jurisdiction.
The form was approved as the official complaint instrument for the prosecution of misdemeanor cases within the jurisdiction of Pinellas County where a notice to appear is appropriate. Now, all agencies in Pinellas County who are authorized to issue Notice to Appear forms for County Court using the approved forms. The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will continue to issue citations on the agency’s required state forms.
The notice to appear on a misdemeanor or ordinance violation for the county court in Pinellas County, FL, was last revised in January of 2019. The notice to appear applies to the following:
- a misdemeanor violation of a Florida Statute Statute which requires an appearance in court; or
- a criminal ordinance violation requiring an appearance in court.
Before paying the listed fine or entering a written plea of guilty to the offense, contact an experienced criminal defense attorney to discuss the consequences.
If you fail to appear at the time and place designated above to answer the offense charge, enter a written plea of not guilty to the offense, or pay the fine listed within 30 days, the court will issue a capias for your arrest.
Judicial Assignments for Notice to Appear Misdemeanors in Pinellas County, FL
In Pinellas County, FL, Misdemeanor Notice to Appear (NTA) cases that do not involve the Adult Pre-Arrest Diversion program are divided into Sections E, F, G, H, and L. The time and place for the arraignment hearing is listed on the Notices to Appear. The section Judicial Assistants sets the NTAs in the respective sections.
All law enforcement or code enforcement officers in Pinellas County who issue Notices to Appear are directed to:
- Issue NTAs for misdemeanor violations, which are returnable to Pinellas County Justice Center, 14250 49th Street North, Clearwater, Florida 33762.
- Issue NTAs for local ordinance violations or non-criminal payable infractions returnable to Courtroom 16, Pinellas County Justice Center, 14250 49th Street North, Clearwater, Florida 33762. Notices for county violations, unless the violation is issued by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, shall be returnable at 1:30 p.m. on the fifth Wednesday following issuance.
- Notices for municipal and county violations filed by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office shall be returnable at 1:30 p.m. on the fifth Thursday following issuance.
- Non-criminal payable infractions shall be returnable at 3:00 p.m. on the fifth Wednesday or Thursday following issuance.
- Provide copies of the NTAs to the Clerk of the Circuit Court within 72 hours of the notices being issued.
When the Misdemeanor Notice to Appear is filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court, the clerk will assign NTAs among Sections E, F, G, H, and L of the county criminal court based on whether the defendant has any pending cases in misdemeanor court.
If not, the Clerk’s Office will assign the case to the most recent section the defendant has been assigned. If the defendant has no previously assigned section, the Clerk’s Office will assign new cases on an equal, at random, blind assignment basis.
This article was last updated on Friday, May 3, 2024.
