(a) A person who possesses alcoholic beverages in a municipality or established village in violation of Alaska Stat. § 04.11.501 or an ordinance adopted under Alaska Stat. § 04.11.501 may, upon conviction, be punished by a fine not to exceed $1,000 and shall forfeit the seized alcoholic beverages. When a peace officer stops or contacts a person concerning a violation of Alaska Stat. § 04.11.501 or an ordinance adopted under Alaska Stat. § 04.11.501, the peace officer shall seize the alcoholic beverages and may issue a citation to the person as provided in Alaska Stat. § 12.25.175 – 12.25.230.
Terms Used In Alaska Statutes 04.16.205
Bail: Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.
Clerk of court: An officer appointed by the court to work with the chief judge in overseeing the court's administration, especially to assist in managing the flow of cases through the court and to maintain court records.
Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
municipality: means a political subdivision incorporated under the laws of the state that is a home rule or general law city, a home rule or general law borough, or a unified municipality. See Alaska Statutes 01.10.060
person: includes a corporation, company, partnership, firm, association, organization, business trust, or society, as well as a natural person. See Alaska Statutes 01.10.060
Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
Public defender: Represent defendants who can't afford an attorney in criminal matters.
state: means the State of Alaska unless applied to the different parts of the United States and in the latter case it includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See Alaska Statutes 01.10.060
Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
(b) If a person cited for a violation of Alaska Stat. § 04.11.501 or an ordinance adopted under Alaska Stat. § 04.11.501 for which a bail amount has been established under (c) of this section does not contest the citation, the person may, within 30 days after the date the citation is issued,
(1) mail or personally deliver to the clerk of the court in which the citation is filed by the peace officer the amount of bail indicated on the citation and a copy of the citation indicating that the right to an appearance is waived, a plea of no contest is entered, and the bail and all alcoholic beverages seized are forfeited; or(2) perform community work in lieu of payment of the fine or a portion of the fine as provided in (d) of this section.(c) The supreme court shall establish by rule or order a schedule of bail amounts that may be forfeited without a court appearance for a violation of Alaska Stat. § 04.11.501 or an ordinance adopted under Alaska Stat. § 04.11.501. In establishing the bail schedule the supreme court may consider the quantity of alcoholic beverages possessed and the number of prior violations of the person cited. Before establishing or amending the schedule of bail amounts required by this subsection, the supreme court shall appoint and consult with an advisory committee consisting of the following seven persons: one superior court judge, one magistrate from each judicial district in the state, a representative of the Department of Law, and a representative of the Public Defender Agency. The maximum bail amount may not exceed $1,000, and the issuing officer shall write on the citation the amount of bail applicable to the violation.(d) Community work shall be performed at the direction of the local governing body of the municipality or the local governing body of the established village. In the absence of a local governing body for an established village, community work shall be performed at the direction of the body that has traditionally performed public functions on behalf of the entire community. The value of community work in lieu of a fine is $5.00 per hour. When the community work is completed, the person cited for the violation shall mail or personally deliver to the clerk of the court in which the citation is filed by the peace officer
(1) a form, prescribed by the administrative director of the Alaska Court System, indicating completion of the community work; and(2) a copy of the citation, indicating that the right to an appearance is waived, a plea of no contest is entered, and that the bail is forfeited or community work has been performed and that all alcoholic beverages seized are forfeited.(e) When bail has been forfeited or proof of performance of community work under this section has been filed with the court, a judgment shall be entered. Forfeiture of bail or filing proof of performance of community work and forfeiture of all seized items is a complete satisfaction for the violation. The clerk of court accepting the bail or the form indicating performance of community work shall provide the offender with a receipt stating that fact, if requested.(f) A person cited under this section is guilty of failure to obey a citation under Alaska Stat. § 12.25.230 if the person fails to pay the fine, appear in court as required, or provide proof of performance to the court as specified in (d)(1) of this section.(g) Notwithstanding other provisions of law, if a person cited for a violation of Alaska Stat. § 04.11.501 or an ordinance adopted under Alaska Stat. § 04.11.501 for which a bail amount has been established under (c) of this section appears in court and is found guilty, the penalty that is imposed for the offense may not exceed the bail amount for that offense established under (c) of this section.(h) A violation of Alaska Stat. § 04.11.501 or an ordinance adopted under Alaska Stat. § 04.11.501 may not be considered a criminal offense and may not result in imprisonment, nor is a fine imposed for a violation considered criminal punishment. A person cited for a violation does not have a right to a jury trial or court appointed counsel.(i)[Repealed, Sec. 60 ch 29 SLA 2010].(j)[Repealed, Sec. 60 ch 29 SLA 2010].
