Rule 151. Complaint and summons; form

(a) Form. In cases involving violation of statutes, ordinances or regulations relating to the operation or use of motor vehicles, hereinafter designated as "traffic offenses", the complaint and summons shall be in the form prescribed by the territorial court to be known as the "Uniform Traffic Ticket." The uniform traffic ticket shall consist of four parts, separated by carbon paper: 1. the complaint, to be printed on white paper; 2. the police record, which shall be a copy of the complaint and printed on green paper; 3. the officer's copy, which shall be a copy of the complaint and printed on yellow paper; and 4. the summons to be printed on white cardboard stock. Their reverse sides shall be as set out in said form, except that where the territorial court has established a violations bureau, the court may add offenses to the list of those which may be heard by the court only, appearing on the reverse side of the summons. Where a violations bureau has not been established, only the notice and the appearance, plea and waiver shall be printed on the reverse side of the summons.

(b) When used. The complaint form shall be used in traffic cases, whether the complaint is made by a police or peace officer, or by any other person.

(c) Records and reports. The clerk of the territorial court shall be responsible for all uniform traffic tickets issued to law enforcement officers and others and for their proper disposition, and shall prepare or cause to be prepared appropriate records and reports relating to these traffic tickets, in such manner and at such times as directed by the court

(d) TIME FOR FILING. Traffic tickets duly served upon defendants and indicating a court appearance date shall be filed with the Traffic Division of the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands no later than fourteen (14) days prior to the court appearance date. Traffic tickets duly served upon defendants without a court appearance date shall be filed with the Traffic Division of the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands within thirty (30) days of such service. Failure to file traffic tickets as ordered herein shall result in the dismissal of the traffic tickets without prejudice..--Amended May 27, 1965; Oct. 14, 1994, eff. Nov. 16, 1994.