Seaside Heights to Let Minor Fines to Be Paid Without Court Appearance

Gavel (Credit: Brian Turner/Flickr)

Seaside Heights officials have introduced ordinances spanning a number of areas in which those are ticketed can pay their fines without having to make an in-person court appearance.

Last week, borough council members were presented with an agenda that appeared at first glance to be re-writing a host of ordinances, however each of them were simply being modified to allow a simple payment of a fine rather than an appearance in court.

“Basically, they’re removing the mandatory court appearance requirement that is currently in the ordinance book for these particular violations,” said Borough Administrator Christopher Vaz. “The court, police department and code have recommended that, for these particular violations, people have an option to pay online or pay by check, and not have to make an appearance before the judge.”

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Court appearances have long been required by the ordinances in question, and required those accused of violations to physically appear in front of the municipal court judge even if they intended to plead guilty to the summons they were issued and pay the fine required by the ordinance. The ordinances affected include:

• Garbage and solid waste disposal.
• Vehicle Storage.
• Boardwalk/Beach rules.
• Shopping carts.
• Certificates of occupancy.
• Peace and good order.
• Alarms
• Mercantile establishments.

Officials will still have the option of requiring a court appearance if one is deemed necessary, however the requirement all tickets issued under the ordinances will be removed.

The council approved the introduction of the changes for each ordinance at its meeting last week. The measure will require a public hearing and second vote at the next council meeting for final approval and adoption.