Utah Code

Utah Code § 77-7-21 (2026)

Proceeding on citation -- Voluntary payment of recommended fine amount -- Parent signature required -- Information, when required

✓ current as of May 2026

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A citation filed with the court may, with the consent of the defendant, serve in lieu of an information to which the defendant may plead guilty or no contest to the charge or charges listed and be sentenced accordingly.

If provided by the uniform fine schedule described in Section 76-3-301.5, or with the court's approval, an individual may voluntarily pay the recommended fine amount and other penalties without a personal appearance before the court in any case charging a class B misdemeanor or lower offense, unless the charge is:

a domestic violence offense as defined in Section 77-36-1;

a violation of Section 41-6a-502, driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or a combination of both or with specified or unsafe blood alcohol concentration;

a violation of Section 41-6a-517, driving with any measurable controlled substance in the body;

a violation of a local ordinance similar to the offenses described in Subsections (1)(b)(i) through (iii); or

a violation that appears to:

affect a victim, as defined in Section 77-38b-102; or

require restitution, as defined in Section 77-38b-102.

A defendant's voluntary payment of the recommended fine amount and other penalties shall be entered as a conviction and treated the same as if the accused pleaded no contest.

If the person cited is under 18 years old, the court shall promptly mail a copy or notice of the citation to the address as shown on the citation, to the attention of the parent or guardian of the defendant.

If the individual pleads not guilty to the offense charged, further proceedings shall be held in accordance with the Rules of Criminal Procedure and all other applicable provisions of this code.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 4 cases, 2013–2017 · leading case: State v. Sommerville, 2013 UT App 40 (Utah Ct. App. 2013).

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State v. Sommerville, 2013 UT App 40 (Utah Ct. App. 2013). · cites it 4× “Although a citation "may be used in lieu of an information" so that "the person cited may plead guilty or no contest and be sentenced or on which bail may be forfeited," Utah Code Ann. § 77-7-21 (1)(a) (LexisNexis 2012), the citation is not an information.”

State v. Ririe, 2015 UT 37 (Utah 2015). · cites it 3× “§ 77-7-21(1)(c). The statutory scheme simply does not require the involvement of a "prosecuting attorney," and the preclusion standards in sections 402 and 403 were accordingly not implicated.”

Patrick Kincaid v. Gov't of the Dist. of Columbia, 854 F.3d 721 (D.C. Cir. 2017). “044 (select misdemeanors); Utah Code Ann. § 77-7-21 (select misdemeanors and infractions); LePage v.”

State v. Jepson, 2017 UT App 63 (Utah Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 48× “” Utah Code Ann. § 77-7-21 (l)(a) (LexisNexis 2012) (emphasis added).”

— Utah Code § 77-7-21(1) — 1 case

State v. Sommerville, 2013 UT App 40 (Utah Ct. App. 2013). “Although a citation "may be used in lieu of an information" so that "the person cited may plead guilty or no contest and be sentenced or on which bail may be forfeited," Utah Code Ann. § 77-7-21 (1)(a) (LexisNexis 2012), the citation is not an information.”

— Utah Code § 77-7-21(1)(c) — 1 case

State v. Ririe, 2015 UT 37 (Utah 2015). “§ 77-7-21(1)(c). The statutory scheme simply does not require the involvement of a "prosecuting attorney," and the preclusion standards in sections 402 and 403 were accordingly not implicated.”

— Utah Code § 77-7-21(2) — 3 cases