Can all Class C misdemeanor charges be filed by a citation?

Can all Class C misdemeanor charges be filed by a citation?

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Only certain Class C offenses may be cited
• D. A citation cannot be used for Class C misdemeanors

Answer: (B)

Not every Class C misdemeanor can be charged by citation. A citation is used to bring a defendant to court without taking them into custody, but it’s only available under specific conditions: the person must be identifiable, not in custody for another offense, and the offense must be punishable by a fine only. When those conditions aren’t met—such as if the person can’t be identified, is already in custody, or the offense requires arrest by statute—the case must be processed through arrest and booking or another charging method. So the statement that all Class C misdemeanors can be filed by citation is not correct; only a subset qualify for citation.

Not every Class C misdemeanor can be charged by citation. A citation is used to bring a defendant to court without taking them into custody, but it’s only available under specific conditions: the person must be identifiable, not in custody for another offense, and the offense must be punishable by a fine only. When those conditions aren’t met—such as if the person can’t be identified, is already in custody, or the offense requires arrest by statute—the case must be processed through arrest and booking or another charging method. So the statement that all Class C misdemeanors can be filed by citation is not correct; only a subset qualify for citation.