Under what condition can a prosecutor charge a defendant with the offense of violation of promise to appear?

Under what condition can a prosecutor charge a defendant with the offense of violation of promise to appear?

• A. When a defendant fails to appear who is charged with a Subtitle C, Rules of the Road offense
• B. The defendant is charged with any offense when a failure to appear occurs
• C. When the defendant posts bond
• D. When the defendant is charged with a felony

Answer: (A)

When a person is released on a promise to appear for a traffic violation (Subtitle C, Rules of the Road), a separate offense—violation of promise to appear—can be charged if that person fails to appear as promised. This charge is tied specifically to the failure to appear for a traffic offense, not to failures to appear in other types of cases, nor to actions like posting bond or being charged with a felony. The idea is that the promise to appear is part of the traffic citation process, and failing to honor that promise triggers a distinct, typically smaller offense designed to handle non-appearance in traffic matters.

When a person is released on a promise to appear for a traffic violation (Subtitle C, Rules of the Road), a separate offense—violation of promise to appear—can be charged if that person fails to appear as promised. This charge is tied specifically to the failure to appear for a traffic offense, not to failures to appear in other types of cases, nor to actions like posting bond or being charged with a felony. The idea is that the promise to appear is part of the traffic citation process, and failing to honor that promise triggers a distinct, typically smaller offense designed to handle non-appearance in traffic matters.