GENERAL ORDERS LINCOLN POLICE DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: TRAFFIC OPERATIONS
TITLE: TRAFFIC & PARKING CITATIONS
EFFECTIVE DATE: JUNE 1, 2025
REVISION DATE:
ACCREDITATION: ALABAMA ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE (AACOP)
APPROVAL: CHIEF DARREN E. BRITTON
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TRAFFIC & PARKING CITATIONS
504.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
This policy outlines the responsibilities for issuing, correcting, voiding and dismissing traffic and parking citations.
504.2 POLICY
It is the policy of the Lincoln Police Department to enforce traffic laws fairly and equally. Authorized members may issue a traffic citation, parking citation, or written or verbal warning based upon the circumstances of the contact and in the best interest of the motoring public and community safety.
504.3 RESPONSIBILITIES
Citations will be kept in a secure location and issued to members by a supervisor or admin personnel.
Members will sign for the citation books when issued or upon return of unused citations.
Members of the Lincoln Police Department shall only use department-approved traffic and parking citation forms.
504.4 UNIFORM TRAFFIC CITATION PROCEDURES
a. All personnel of the Uniformed Division shall adhere to the following procedures:
(a) The adopted method for issuing and transferring traffic citations is through eCite, the State of Alabama's digital citation system.
(b) A printed copy generated by eCite shall be issued to every offender. In the event an offender refuses to accept the copy, the issuing officer shall then amend the citation and document in the notes section the offender's refusal to accept. This is an evidentiary measure which could be used during court proceedings.
(c) An officer shall have in his/her possession a book of hand-written citations in the event eCite access is unavailable.
b. The following protocol shall be followed for hand-written citations:
(a) Obtain Uniform Traffic Citation booklets from a supervisor as needed.
(b) Complete the uniform traffic citation legibly, entirely and in black ink. The violator shall be issued the appropriate copy.
(c) Remaining copies shall be affirmed before a court magistrate within forty- eight hours of issuance or as soon as possible.
504.4.1 VOIDING
Voiding a traffic citation may occur when the citation has not been completed or when it is completed but not issued.
504.4.2 DISMISSAL
Prior to a court hearing, a member may request for dismissal of a traffic citation to the court magistrate. The request must include the reason for dismissal (i.e., in the interest of justice, prosecution is deemed inappropriate) and upon a review of the circumstances involving the issuance of the traffic citation, the magistrate may approve a dismissal.
Should a member determine during a court proceeding that a traffic citation should be dismissed in the interest of justice or where prosecution is deemed inappropriate, the member may make a recommendation to the court to dismiss the citation.
504.4.3 BAIL
When a traffic citation is issued for a violation which requires bail, the driver may elect to deposit his/her driver's license with the officer in lieu of bail. The officer shall issue a receipt for the license (Ala. Code § 32-1-5).
504.4.4 PARKING CITATION APPEALS
Parking citations may be appealed in accordance with local and state law.
504.5 JUVENILE CITATIONS
Should an officer issue a citation to a juvenile sixteen years old or older, licenses or not, the facts surrounding the offense shall be heard in the Lincoln Municipal Court. If an officer issues a citation to a juvenile fifteen years old or younger, licensed or not, the officer must refer the citation to the County Juvenile Probation Office
504.6 DATA COLLECTION
The Department shall maintain and report statistical information of minority drivers cited for traffic violations:
(a) When under the age of 18, and found in violation of driver's license restrictions (Ala. Code § 32-6-7.3)
(b) When in violation of the Safety Belt Act (Ala. Code § 32-5B-8)
(c) When in violation of the texting while driving law (Ala. Code § 32-5A-352)
These policies and operating procedures are not designed to cover every possible scenario or situation in society, but rather to define standard operating procedures for members of the Lincoln Police Department. These guidelines are subject to past, present and future judicial review. These guidelines can be amended and or repealed by the Chief of Police as necessary. The policies and procedures herein provided supersede all previous policies and orders.
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